Published Friday, October 16, 2026. This post summarizes public news reports and is general information, not legal advice.
Crews Bring Fire Under Control at Grove Street Home in Kingston
Kingston police and fire departments were notified of a fire at a 2.5-story home on Grove Street just before 12 a.m. Thursday, and arriving crews found smoke showing and heavy fire inside, according to reports from NBC Boston. Kingston Fire said it took crews about one hour to get the fire under control.
NBC Boston reported that the home’s lone resident, an elderly person, was able to get out under their own power. The resident and one firefighter were taken to local hospitals with injuries fire officials described as minor.
NBC Boston reported that Massachusetts State Police are investigating the fire and that it is not believed to be suspicious at this time.
Legal Questions When Someone Is Hurt While Working at a Fire
When someone is hurt while working, including at an emergency scene, the Massachusetts workers’ compensation law, M.G.L. c. 152, is generally the first legal question for an employee covered by that chapter.
Under M.G.L. c. 152, § 26, an employee who receives a personal injury arising out of and in the course of employment is generally entitled to compensation from the insurer or self-insurer, so long as the employee has not given notice reserving common law rights under section 24, or has waived any such notice. Under § 30, the insurer must furnish adequate and reasonable health care services, and medicines if needed, with the expenses necessarily incidental to them.
Under § 34, while incapacity for work resulting from the injury is total, the insurer generally must pay weekly compensation of sixty percent of the pre-injury average weekly wage, subject to the maximum and minimum weekly compensation rates, for no more than 156 weeks. If that average weekly wage is below the minimum weekly rate, weekly compensation instead equals the average weekly wage. Under § 24, an employee who did not give the employer, at the time of hire and in a manner the department may approve, written notice claiming the common law right of action is generally held to have waived that right to recover damages from the employer for an injury the chapter covers.
A police investigation examines what happened and whether a law may have been broken. Police can seek criminal charges, prosecutors decide whether to pursue them, and a court decides guilt. A civil claim for compensation is a separate matter that asks who can be responsible for the harm, and it does not depend on whether anyone is charged or convicted.
At Colucci, Colucci & Marcus, P.C., Boston personal injury attorney Dino M. Colucci represents people injured in fires and workplace incidents. Our team investigates how an injury happened, which benefits apply and whether a party other than the employer can be responsible. Our team represents injured clients in Suffolk, Norfolk and Middlesex counties and throughout Massachusetts.
Why Witness Accounts Can Fade After a Fire
Accounts from people who were present can be relevant evidence in a Massachusetts injury claim. Memories can fade over time, and the contact details of neighbors, passersby or others at a scene can be lost.
Statements taken early can be more complete, capturing what people saw and heard and the order in which events unfolded. Physical conditions at a scene can change as well, since debris can be removed and a damaged building can be repaired or cleared.
Our team works to locate witnesses and record their accounts while details are fresh. We also gather incident reports and other records that can serve as evidence of how an injury happened.
What to Do Now After an Injury at Work
- Get medical care: See a doctor even for an injury that seems minor, and tell the provider the injury happened at work so the records reflect it.
- Report the injury in writing: Give the employer a written report of when, where and how the injury happened, and keep a copy.
- Keep records of missed work and pay: Track missed shifts, pay stubs and any change in duties, since weekly benefits are tied to the average weekly wage.
- Ask that evidence be preserved: Request in writing that equipment, video and incident reports connected to the injury be kept.
- Understand the two possible routes: Workers’ compensation benefits are generally paid by the insurer or self-insurer rather than pursued as a lawsuit against the employer, and under M.G.L. c. 152, § 15, an employee can generally receive those benefits without having to choose between them and a claim against another legally responsible party. The workers’ compensation insurer can also enforce that party’s liability, but only after paying compensation under the listed sections and once seven months have passed from the date of injury.
- Speak with a lawyer before signing insurer paperwork: A recorded statement, a medical authorization or a settlement release given early can affect a claim before the full extent of an injury is known. It is generally worth understanding what a document does before signing it.
Sources
- nbcboston.com: Resident, firefighter injured in fire at Kingston home
Talking With a Lawyer After a Workplace Incident in Kingston
Questions about insurance, deadlines or evidence after a workplace incident can be answered in one conversation. Call Colucci, Colucci & Marcus, P.C. at (617) 958-3807 for a free, confidential consultation. Our office at 31 Milk St, 4th Floor, Boston, MA 02109 serves injured clients throughout Boston and across Massachusetts.
