NORTHBRIDGE — The cause of a fire that destroyed a mansion in April will officially remain undetermined, state fire investgators said.
The four-alarm fire in the mansion, known as the Victorian and the James Fletcher Whitin mansion, at 583 Linwood Ave., is not considered suspicious, state Fire Marshal Peter. J. Ostroskey and Northbridge Fire Chief David White said in a joint press release.
A passerby reported the fire at 3:40 a.m. on April 29. Firefighters responded and found heavy smoke and flames coming from the second- and third-floor windows. Police officers rescued a dog from the home prior to firefighters arriving.
According to the press release, the fire spread through the three-story home and drew a dozen fire departments to help fight it. One firefighter was injured when a ceiling collapsed.
Although the official cause of the fire is undetermined, investigators did find rags covered in wood stain left in a cardboard box near the starting spot of the blaze that had been used two days prior.
“The oils in some paints, stains and varnishes release heat as they dry,” White said in a statement. “If oily rags or applicators are left in a pile or confined space, the heat can build up and cause them to ignite. To prevent a fire, always dry these rags outdoors and individually. You can hang dry them or lay them flat on the ground with a rock to keep them from blowing away.”
Ostroskey said oily rags have been the cause of "major fires."
“We’ve seen several major fires this year that started with oily rags, including one that was fatal,” Ostroskey said in the release. “If you’re undertaking a home improvement project, please be careful when using paints, stains and varnishes. While the cause of this fire will remain officially undetermined, investigators were unable to rule them out as a potential cause.”
According to the Northbridge Historical Society, James Fletcher Whitin built the 13,000-square-foot home across from the Linwood Cotton Mill, which he owned, in 1879.
Whitin was the son of Paul Whitin, who founded Whitin Machine Works, which was the largest manufacturer of textile machinery in the world at the time. The village of Whitinsville is named for Paul Whitin.
The home had served as a restaurant and inn from 1971 to 1993, with actor Paul Newman being an occasional guest. It has been a private residence since 2005.
The property was last assessed at $871,800, according to Northbridge property records.
Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or [email protected]. For up-to-date public safety news, follow Norman Miller Twitter @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at facebook.comNormanMIllerCrime.