Firefighters save dog, two cats from Westport Point fire

Fire broke out in home attached to post office; one firefighter suffered heat exhaustion

By Ted Hayes
Posted 9/16/26

A home attached to the United States Post Office’s Westport Point branch at 1974 Main Road caught fire late Wednesday morning, drawing firefighters from Westport, Tiverton, Little Compton and …

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Firefighters save dog, two cats from Westport Point fire

Fire broke out in home attached to post office; one firefighter suffered heat exhaustion

Posted

A home attached to the United States Post Office’s Westport Point branch at 1974 Main Road caught fire late Wednesday morning, drawing firefighters from Westport, Tiverton, Little Compton and Dartmouth districts 2 and 3, who extinguished it by early afternoon. One firefighter was taken to the hospital with heat exhaustion and was reportedly in good condition, and fire fighters successfully revived a dog and rescue two cats.

The post office was not damaged and is expected to re-open Thursday. It, and the adjacent home, are owned by James S. Acierno Jr. according to Westport property records.

The first firefighters to arrive found heavy fire in the kitchen of the two-story home, and all occupants had made it out by the time they arrived. However, the cats and dog were unaccounted for. While firefighters worked to contain and extinguish the fire, firefighters searched and found the pets inside. The dog was semi-responsive with breathing difficulties, but firefighters were able to revive it and brought it to a local animal hospital. At last report, all animals were doing well and are expected to survive, Westport officials said.

A Westport firefighter was treated and transported to the hospital with heat exhaustion and was doing well Wednesday afternoon.

The fire was not considered suspicious and is under investigation by the Massachusetts State Police Fire investigation unit.

 

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A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.