ACUSHNET, Mass. (WLNE) — Officials announced Thursday that an elderly couple was killed in a tragic Christmas Day fire in Acushnet. Michael Lyonnais said he got a call around 2 a.m. Wednesday that his childhood home on Garfield Street was up in flames. “It was devastating to get that phone call,” Lyonnais said. “The tenant was hysterical, he’s saying ‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry,’ and I’m thinking he must mean my parents haven’t gotten out of the house.” Michael’s father, 89-year-old Leo Lyonnais, and mother, 87-year-old Annette Lyonnais, were killed in the fire. Michael was especially close with his father, as the two of them started a contracting business back in 1978 and worked together for more than 20 years. “My father was known for always going the extra mile to help a customer out to get to the finish point of any problem we would run into,” Lyonnais said. “He liked a challenge, he was a fighter.” Michael’s mother was also a well-known figure around town. “She was very popular at her breakfast joint that she went to faithfully every morning,” Lyonnais said. “She knew the whole crew at the breakfast club, she had a lot of friends there too.” The couple’s passing has shaken the tight-knit Acushnet community. Neighbors said they knew both Leo and Annette well, adding they were a fixture in the neighborhood for 62 years. The couple was married for 68 years, according to Michael. “I’m gonna miss them both,” he said. “I was just getting to enjoy them now that I was retired, so it’s rough, but we’ll get through it.” Officials announced Thursday that they believed the fire was accidental, but the exact cause is still under investigation. Investigators said a wood stove and an electrical outlet with a multiple-prong adapter were found in the area of origin. Categories: Massachusetts, News