Flowers rested outside 38 Glenwood Ave. in Orange on Wednesday, two days after the fire that killed 79-year-old Jane Peterson.
Peterson was the sole occupant of the manufactured home where she lived with two dogs. The Orange Fire Department said the dogs also died in the fire.
Neighbors were approached and said they did not wish to comment at this time.
Investigators say improper use or disposal of smoking materials appears to have caused the Monday night fire.
The blaze was first reported to police around 9:08 p.m., according to the Orange Fire Department in a post on its Facebook page. Surrounding fire departments in Athol and New Salem responded to the call, along with the Orange Fire Department.
Orange Fire Chief James Young said a heavy amount of clutter in the home made it more difficult to fight the fire and stop the flames from spreading.
Firefighters were eventually able to gain entry into the home with a ground ladder through a window and removed the victim while fire suppression efforts continued, according to the Facebook post.
Members of the Orange Fire and Police departments, together with the Massachusetts State Police assigned to both the Office of the State Fire Marshal and to the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office, investigated the case and remained on scene until around 3 a.m.
A press statement from the fire marshal quoted Young as saying, “This is a sad end to a long life.” He added the outcome could possibly have been different had there been working smoke alarms in the home.
“The Orange Fire Department would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the victim’s family and friends,” the Orange Fire Department said.
State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey said lack of working smoke alarms has been a factor in many fire deaths in the past year.
“This is the 23rd fire death in Massachusetts this year, and over one-third of the deaths have been elderly over 65 years of age,” he said.