Wayne Santos, 59, Died After Trailer Caught Fire at Property on Nathan Ellis Highway in Mashpee
MASHPEE, MASSACHUSETTS (November 25, 2025) – A 59-year-old man identified as Wayne Santos has tragically died in a Mashpee mobile home fire along the Nathan Ellis Highway.
Barnstable County officials are saying that the accident took place around 3:00 AM on Wednesday morning. Wayne Santos was disabled and asleep when the fire started.
Neighbors said that they saw a glow and smoke coming from the residence. Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene to help the victim.
They were able to enter the home through an exterior wall. Sadly, Wayne Santos was pronounced dead at the scene. Both the victim’s sister and his neighbors said that he used an e-bike, which is a suspected source of the fire.
He was remembered as a kind and generous person. A full investigation into the Mashpee mobile home fire remains ongoing.
Liability for Mashpee Mobile Home Fires
Residential fires can be highly complex events. There could be numerous sources of liability depending on who owned the property where it took place. For example, the entity who owned a trailer park or leased out a trailer may be liable. Property owners in Massachusetts can be liable for injuries caused by a dangerous condition on their premises. There may be several other sources of liability for a residential fire.
- E-bike Manufacturer: The company that manufactured an e-bike could potentially be liable for an accident. Many fires are caused by e-bikes with defective lithium-ion batteries. In New York City alone, e-bikes have caused 800 fires, leading to over 30 deaths and over 400 injuries since 2022.
- Maintenance Contractor: The company responsible for the electrical systems in a mobile home could also bear some liability. A number of mobile home fires are caused by poor grounding and overloaded circuits
- Propane Supplier: Another possible defendant for a mobile home fire is a propane supplier. They may have failed to install a line correctly, which allowed gas vapors to leak around the property.
In many cases, multiple different entities could be liable for the same accident. What matters is what steps were taken to mitigate the hazard. When a property owner has actual or constructive notice of a dangerous condition, they must take action. If a property owner fails to take measures to remedy a dangerous condition, they could be liable for any resulting injuries. This is why it is so important that the source of the fire is properly understood.
Steps to Take After Mobile Home Fires
Residential fires remain a major cause of preventable injury or death for individuals and families across Massachusetts and the United States. According to the United States Fire Association, “Fires in manufactured homes claim the lives of 500 Americans each year and injure 1,000 more. Many of these fires are caused by heating and electrical system malfunctions and improper storage of combustibles.” It is important that certain actions are taken after any fire at a mobile home.
- Police Investigation: The police should be called to the scene as early as possible so that they can begin an investigation into the potential cause of the fire.
- Medical Support: Victims should seek medical support as soon as they can. Many of the injuries associated with smoke inhalation may not be immediately obvious.
- Evidence Preservation: All of the evidence associated with the fire should be carefully preserved. At the very least, photos of the accident site should be taken.
- Independent Review: Victims should seek a free and independent investigation by a legal team with ample experience in tort claims. This team can help identify the cause of the fire and identify all potentially liable parties.
Mobile home fires tend to be highly preventable. Most people are able to escape with their lives. But many people who are elderly, injured, or disabled are not able to escape in time. Any person injured in a mobile home fire is protected by a number of laws. These rights extend to the family members of any person who died in a fire. They are able to seek some measure of accountability through a civil action.
Investigating Mashpee Residential Fires
We at DiBella Law extend our deepest condolences to the family of Wayne Santos. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to the authorities. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong. A number of questions remain unanswered. Which company created the e-bike at the residence? Was it on any recall list? Were there functional smoke alarms inside of the property?
Do you need more information about a Mashpee residential fire? Our team of fire accident investigators is here for you. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected through skilled advocacy. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation of any accident, we are here to support you. You can reach out to us anytime at (617) 870-0907.