Victim Identified in Fatal Arlington Fire

ARLINGTON – Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan, Arlington Fire Chief Kevin M. Kelley, Arlington Police Chief Juliann Flaherty and State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey have confirmed the identity of the victim in the fatal apartment building fire in Arlington, as Bridget Doyle, 88.

Shortly after 4:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 22, 2022, Arlington Fire responded to a 911 call reporting a fire at 54 Medford Street. Upon arrival, firefighters found two people injured. Both individuals were transported to the hospital. One of them, Bridget Doyle, was later pronounced dead. During the fire, about 16 people were displaced from the building, which houses a large number of older adults. The cause of the fire was determined to be accidental and started with an electric baseboard heater that either malfunctioned or was in close proximity to combustible items. The fire originated in the bedroom of a third-floor apartment in a seven-story building.

Arlington’s Department of Health and Human Services, through its Council on Aging and alongside the Arlington Housing Authority, has established a donation fund to support the residents that have been impacted by the fire. To donate to the Chestnut Manor Relief Fund, visit www.arlingtoncommunitycenter.org/chestnutmanor.

The origin and cause of the fire were investigated jointly by the Arlington Fire Department, the Arlington Police Department, the State Police Fire & Explosion Investigation Unit assigned to the State Fire Marshal’s office, and State Police detectives assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s office.