Burlington Maryvale Road Fire Victim Identified As Kevin O'Brien

BURLINGTON, MA — The victim of a fatal house fire in Burlington was Kevin O'Brien, 61, officials confirmed Tuesday. The fire, on Maryvale Road, occurred in the afternoon of Jan. 9. An elderly woman was rescued from the home by a FedEx driver and a neighbor, before first responders arrived on the scene.

On arrival, first responders found heavy smoke coming from the windows of the home and flames coming from the front window. The elderly woman was taken to a local hospital for treatment, along with a Burlington police officer. Firefighters tried to find the a second resident, but were unable to find him.

A second alarm was struck as firefighters worked to knock down the fire. They later found O’Brien deceased inside.

The state fire marshal found that the fire was caused by improper disposal of smoking materials. It started in the first-floor living room where O'Brien was found, near a melted plastic bucket containing Pall Mall cigarette remnants. There was other evidence of smoking materials found in the room.

Burlington Fire and Police Departments and State Police assigned to the Office of the State Fire Marshal and to the Middlesex County District Attorney investigated the case.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.