3 displaced by early-morning house fire in Kittery

Three people are without a home after a fire damaged a residence in Kittery early Thursday morning, drawing a large mutual aid response from departments across southern Maine and into New Hampshire.

Kittery Fire Chief Randall Trull said crews were dispatched to 50 Tenney Hill Road at approximately 1:10 a.m. The first unit to arrive quickly determined the fire warranted a second alarm, bringing in additional firefighters from neighboring communities.

All occupants of the home had escaped safely before emergency crews arrived, according to Trull. No civilian injuries were reported.

One firefighter was hurt during the response, was transported to a hospital for evaluation and was released the same morning, Trull said.

The chief singled out neighbors who came to the aid of the displaced residents before and after crews arrived, calling their actions a testament to community spirit.

"Your kindness and humility are truly heartwarming," Trull said in a statement.

In addition to Kittery firefighters, crews responded from Eliot, South Berwick, York Beach and York Village in Maine, along with four fire departments from New Hampshire. Stewart's Ambulance Service, the American Red Cross and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Fire and Emergency Services also assisted at the scene, while two additional New Hampshire departments covered Kittery's station to maintain coverage elsewhere in town.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The Red Cross is assisting the three displaced residents.

The response highlights the tightly coordinated mutual aid network that serves the York County and Seacoast region, where departments regularly back each other up on structure fires, medical calls and other emergencies.