Tewksbury police officer helps to safely evacuate residents during house fire

TEWKSBURY, Mass. — A Tewksbury police officer is being praised for helping residents safely evacuate from a house fire on Friday morning.

According to Tewksbury Fire, on January 3 around 5:40 a.m., Tewksbury Police and Fire were dispatched to 36 Mohawk Drive for a report of a house fire, which was called in by a neighbor

Officer Dennis Kelleher was on a nearby street when the fire was called in. He quickly arrived at the home before the firefighters. Upon arrival, he observed heavy smoke and flames coming from the living room and was waved down by a neighbor who notified him that residents were still inside.

Officer Kelleher attempted to kick the front door in, but it was deadbolted. He proceeded to run to the back of the home and eventually found an open door.

Despite feeling the heat from the fire and seeing smoke coming from inside the home, Officer Kelleher entered the building and alerted occupants that the house was on fire.

His actions awoke the three residents who were sleeping and unaware that their home was on fire.

“This is one of the most intimidating situations a police officer can be put in,” Tewksbury Police Lt. Colin Trelegan said in a commendation letter. “We train extensively and have equipment to handle most of the dangerous situations we face. However, in this situation, even though Officer Kelleher didn’t have firefighting equipment, he didn’t hesitate to put himself in harm for the lives of three Tewksbury residents,” Trelegan added.

The residents were able to exit safely without any injuries, and firefighters extinguished the flames shortly after.

“I commend Officer Dennis Kelleher for his bravery and his ability to think quickly during a critical emergency,” Chief Columbus said. “I am incredibly proud of his continued commitment to keeping our community safe no matter the situation and remain grateful that the residents could exit their homes safely. Lastly, I’d like to thank the Tewksbury Fire Department for their quick response and action,” Columbus added.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW

©2025 Cox Media Group