Swampscott fatal fire ruled accidental

SWAMPSCOTT – Fire investigators have determined the May 15 fire at 77 Plymouth Ave. that killed Philip Kenneally was accidental.Fire Investigator Robert Faulkner said the department received the results from the state lab and has ruled the two-alarm fire was accidental.Faulkner said test results revealed Kenneally, 61, had traces of gasoline on his clothing and there was a gas can containing a small amount of gasoline near his body along with several possible ignition sources including a heat gun used for stripping furniture and a long grill lighter.When rescue personnel arrived on the scene the fire had already made a lot of headway and the two-story home was filled with heavy black smoke and firefighters located Kenneally in the basement of his home, which contains a small workshop.Paramedics on scene tried unsuccessfully to revive the well-known contractor before transporting him to Salem Hospital.Faulkner said the department had received a call for heavy smoke at the address and upon arrival found two cars parked in the driveway, which led firefighters to believe someone was inside the home.Firefighters said the thick black smoke hampered the search effort and had to use thermal imaging cameras.All of the windows were smashed out of the blue, one-family home and fire crews cut through the roof.At the time of the fire, several neighbors said Kenneally was hard of hearing and speculated he may not have heard smoke alarm warnings.