Friday, November 13, 2009

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Four officers injured in Scituate fire

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• Raw Video: Scituate fire

SCITUATE, Mass. -- Four police officers were injured in a fire in Scituate Friday afternoon.

The fire on Egypt Beach Road at the intersection of Borden Road broke out just after 5 p.m.

Neighbors said the homeowner Colleen O'Neil was seen just before the fire with a can of spray paint.

"I saw Colleen actually spray painting her front purple door with the number 24, then she spray painted in the lawn in front of her house," said Sharon Costas, a neighbor.

"Some of the neighbors said she spray painted other cars," said one neighbor.

When police arrived, O'Neil had barricaded herself inside the house.  Officials kicked the door in when they saw black smoke coming from the home.  

Police said they believe O'Neil set her home on fire.

"The woman was resisting so they basically had to chase her through the house to get her out of the house," said Chief Rick Judge, of the Scituate Fire Department.

Officials were able to get O'Neil out, but several officers were injured.

"We saw some of the policemen and fireman coming out and actually falling to the ground too, and the smoke was just unbelievable, it was just black," Costas said.

"It was smoke inhalation. I mean the police aren't equipped to go into a burning building, so they went above and beyond," Judge said.

The officers are expected to be ok.

O'Neil was taken to South Shore Hospital.

Neighbors said O'Neil has lived alone in the house for the last five years.  They said she grew increasing distraught when her dog died over the summer.

The fire is under investigation.

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