Portsmouth couple escapes fire that destroys mobile home

Posted 1/7/18

PORTSMOUTH — A couple safely escaped a two-alarm fire that “completely destroyed” their mobile home at Sunny Acres off Bristol Ferry Road Sunday morning, Fire Chief Michael Cranson said.

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Portsmouth couple escapes fire that destroys mobile home

Posted

PORTSMOUTH — A couple safely escaped a two-alarm fire that “completely destroyed” their mobile home at Sunny Acres off Bristol Ferry Road Sunday morning, Fire Chief Michael Cranson said.

Multiple units responded to the 10:19 a.m. call of a fire at a mobile home at 31 North Drive.

“When we got there, the house was completely engulfed in flames and it extended to the two mobile homes on either side of it. One had some significant damage and the other one had some siding that melted off, so it’s livable,” Chief Cranson said.

Fortunately, no one was hurt in the fire. 

According to Detective Lt. Michael C. Arnold of the Police Department, a male resident said he had heard a noise coming from the home’s heater, and then saw flames and smoke coming from the device. The homeowner tried to put out the flames but was unsuccessful, he said.

“The homeowner and his girlfriend got out with their two dogs. There’s a cat that’s still missing,” Chief Cranson said. “It was a complete loss for that mobile home.”

The 720-square-foot mobile home, built in 1970, has two bedrooms and a bathroom, according to an online real estate listing.

The Red Cross is providing help to the families of the two homes that were most significantly damaged, he said.

The fire chief praised the work of firefighters who battled the blaze in difficult weather conditions.

“The guys did a great job in very cold circumstances, with a lot of ice. Battling a fire in a foot and a half of snow is very tricky and dangerous,” he said.

He also thanked the departments that provided mutual aid — Bristol, Tiverton and the Navy Base — as well as Portsmouth Police.

“The Police Department arrived shortly before us and they were really helpful in knocking on doors and getting people out of the two adjacent homes,” Chief Cranson said.

The cause of the fire is not yet known.

“The state fire marshal’s office and our own fire marshal are investigating the fire. It appears to be accidental. It’s certainly not suspicious or anything like that,” Chief Cranson said.

Portsmouth Fire Department, Sunny Acres

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