Peabody Firefighter Killed In Blaze

Updated December 23, 2011

WBUR Newsroom

A Peabody firefighter has died responding to a three-alarm fire in the city.

Firefighter James Rice, 46, was rushed to North Shore Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Peabody Fire Chief Steve Padson says Rice was an 11-year veteran of the department.

"Firefighter James Rice was liked and loved by everybody," Padson told WCVB-TV. "He was a very popular firefighter. He was also a very popular man in the community. And he'll be missed by all in the Peabody Fire Department and throughout the entire city of Peabody."

Investigators are still trying to figure out what caused the fire at 5 Hancock St., which reportedly has left six families homeless.

The death comes just 15 days after Worcester firefighter Jon Davies was killed while searching for a tenant inside a burning apartment building.

This article was originally published on December 23, 2011.

This program aired on December 23, 2011. The audio for this program is not available.