Source: WBZ-TV/YouTube
AVON (WBZ-AM) -- Two people were killed and a third suffered burns after a fire in Avon on Christmas night.
The Department of Fire Services said the three-alarm blaze on Freeman Street was reported around 9:30 p.m.
The Norfolk District Attorney Office identified the two victims as, Louis Orelus, 70 and his son Vladimir Orelus, 28.
Firefighters say they had to knock down the front door of the house and had to drag Louis Orelus from the hallway. He was rushed to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The body of Vladimir was found inside the house. A third victim, a child, suffered minor burns.
While authorities are still investigating officials say the cause of the fire is believed to be accidental and that no foul play was expected.
“This is a terrible tragedy for this family and I offer my heartfelt condolences,” said Avon Fire Chief Robert Spurr. “I would ask everyone to protect their families by making sure they have working smoke alarms on every level of your home and outside sleeping areas,” He added.
Spurr said that there were no working smoke alarms found in the home. The only smoke alarm found had no battery.
Friends and family members have been stopping by the scene of the home Wednesday to mourn the loss of the two men.
Both were from Haiti and ran a Haitian supermarket in Brockton and were members of Trinity Community Church of God in Brockton. According to WBZ-TV, both men were celebrating Christmas when the fire broke out according to a family member. Vlad Orelus pulled his family — wife, and 2 kids out of the home — then went back inside to get his dad.
Fellow Parishioner Mary Jane Voltaire tells WBZ-TV that the father and son will be missed.
They are nice people, we love them so much, so...I don't know what to say. You know this a season of celebrating and they died. So we are very very sorry about that," Voltaire said.
WBZ NewsRadio's Kim Tunnicliffe (@KimWBZ) reports