PEABODY — Fire officials say they've ruled out arson as the cause of the blaze a Peabody firefighter was battling when he died.
Investigators from the State Fire Marshal's office said Saturday they believe the fire was started accidentally. Residents have said the fire at the multi-family home was caused by an electrical problem in a second-floor bedroom.
James Rice was killed while fighting the fire Friday afternoon. Fire officials said the 46-year-old Rice breathed in toxic fumes and his death was due to a medical condition. Autopsy results are pending.
Rice leaves a wife and three children. Peabody Fire Chief Steven Pasdon said Rice was loved and would be greatly missed.
Two funds have been set up at the North Shore Bank, one for Rice's family and one for the 13 residents displaced by the fire. The first is the Firefighter James Rice Memorial Fund and the other is the City of Peabody Fire Victims Relief Fund. Donations are being accepted at any North Shore Bank branch office, or can be mailed to the North Shore Bank, 32 Main Street Peabody, MA 01960.
Other business leaders were also stepping forward yesterday.
Eastern Bank will donate $5,000 to a fund to benefit Rice's family. Eastern Bank will also donate $5,000 to a separate fund established to benefit the families whose three-story apartment building was gutted by the fire in Peabody.
"Our hearts go out to the family of James Rice and everyone affected by this terrible tragedy," said Richard Holbrook, Eastern Bank's chairman and CEO.
Rice, an 11-year veteran, joined the Peabody Fire Department in 2001 after graduating from the state Firefighting Academy in Stow.
His death came about two weeks after Worcester firefighter Jon Davies was killed after the rear of burning building collapsed on him.
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