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The Boston Globe

Metro

Boston.com

Peabody fatal fire likely an accident

By Peter Schworm, Maria Sacchetti and Kathy McCabe

 |  Globe Staff  

  December 24, 2011

PEABODY -- State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan said officials do not suspect arson in a three-alarm fire that claimed the life of a veteran firefighter Friday. “We believe this was an accidental fire,” Coan said at a press conference at a fire station just before noon. Firefighters across the state were mourning the death of James Rice, a 46-year-old firefighter who died while battling the flames that gutted a three-story apartment building. Peabody Police Chief Steven Pasdon said Rice was clad in full protective gear, but “met heavy and eventually overwhelming” conditions.

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