Attic fire partially damages Woodland Road home

By Nicole Simmons
Thursday, August 22, 2002

ASHLAND - Thanks to an observant neighbor, no one was injured late last night in an attic fire that damaged the Hakannson family's home at 61 Woodland Road.

According to Fire Chief William Kee, a preliminary investigation last night suggested that the outside light next to the front door may have sparked a flame that traveled up to the roof eaves and burned in the unused attic.

Homeowner Stephen Hakannson and his wife, Diana, were supposed to leave this morning at about 5 for a trip to Las Vegas, according to their niece, Kim Kaelin, of Worcester. The adults were upstairs watching television while Kaelin and her cousin, Becca Hakannson, 14, slept downstairs. Kaelin was to stay with Becca while her parents were on vacation.

Shortly before 11:30 p.m., the Hakannson's next door neighbor, who did not want to be identified, noticed it was brighter than usual next door, according to Kaelin. He spotted smoke and flames coming out of the Hakannson's attic and ran over to warn them.

The family praised their neighbor for his actions.

Kaelin said everyone was able to get out of the house without incident, although they were a little stunned.

"You know when you're so scared you can't speak?" Kaelin said, standing at the end of the driveway with Becca, both still wearing their pajamas.

Becca said she was told by fire officials that the outside lantern-style light may have caused the fire. They had turned on that light about 20 minutes before the neighbor banged on their door.

"We don't even use it," she said. "We use it maybe 10 times a year."

The family renovated the house about six years ago, Becca added, and never had problems with that light before.

The area around the light fixture was charred as was a section of the roof to the right of the front door near where electrical and telephone wires hook up to the house.

Ashland's public information officer, Peter Chisholm, said Ashland and Hopkinton firefighters had to open the roof to reach the fire. They knocked down the fire shortly after midnight but stayed on scene a couple hours later to clean up and investigate.

Chisholm said a firefighter would use a thermal imaging camera to make sure there weren't any hot spots within the walls or eaves.

The chief didn't know how much damage was caused to the house.

"I'm being told there's pretty good charring in the attic," he said. "It's certainly going to be repairable."

Kaelin said the family would stay with a relative down the street last night.

As for the Vegas trip, Becca wasn't sure what her father would do.

"My dad is set to go," she said. "He had the bags packed and out the door."

Southborough covered the Ashland fire station while Ashland crews were at the fire.