A call came in around 9 a.m. on Tuesday morning that this home at 9 William St. was on fire. Neighbor Oliver Browne, a Mt. Hope High School student, was on the second floor of his family’s home next door, learning remotely, when he heard the transformer in front of 9 William St. explode. His mother, Kristin Brown, captured this dramatic photo after calling 911. 

The home’s residents were able to evacuate themselves, and no injuries were reported. According to Fire Chief Michael DeMello, there was heavy fire on the front porch and first floor that extended within the walls to second floor.

“Fire personnel did a great job aggressively attacking the fire and stopping it,” he wrote in an email. “Portsmouth and Warren provided mutual aid to assist with coverage.”

The fire was brought under control within 20 minutes, and the heavily-damaged structure is uninhabitable at this time. The cause remains under investigation by local and state fire marshals.

In a Facebook post in the aftermath, the daughter of one of the residents gave special thanks to the volunteer fire personnel as well as the local employers who support local volunteerism, allowing the quick and effective response of Bristol's volunteer fire department.