The fire is under investigation by the State Fire Marshal's Office.
BRIMFIELD – A home was destroyed and a person found dead following a Christmas morning fire on Hollow Road.
The State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the fire that started shortly after midnight. Public Information Officer Jennifer Meith confirmed that one person was dead.
The name of the male victim is not being released immediately, Meith said.
State police officials said the area has been designated a crime scene and investigators tightly limited access to the fire scene, keeping news photographers at least 100 feet away.
According to the Associated Press, Police Chief Charles Kuss said the body was located after crews used a tractor to sift through debris left by the blaze.
No cause of the fire has been declared yet. It is not known if anyone else was home at the time of the fire.
Firefighters from eight communities, including Palmer and Monson, provided mutual aide. The blaze was intense and firefighters had difficulty fighting it because of a lack of hydrants nearby, officials said.
The property, which appears to be an old farmhouse, is about 100 yards away from Route 20. It was still smoldering late Wednesday morning and firefighters remained on the scent to put out any embers that ignited again.
Much of the home was destroyed in the fire.