3 displaced, cat killed as fire rips through Kittery home

KITTERY — An early morning fire tore through a home on Tenney Hill Road early Thursday, killing a cat but sparing three residents who escaped safely thanks to working smoke alarms and a vigilant neighbor.

Fire crews were called to 55 Tenney Hill Road at approximately 1:10 a.m. after neighbors reported flames visible from the single-family residence. Kittery Fire Chief Randall Trull said the first arriving unit immediately recognized the severity of the situation and called for a second alarm, bringing in mutual aid crews from multiple departments on both sides of the border.

All three people inside the home made it out before emergency responders arrived. According to the Maine Department of Public Safety, the occupants were awakened by their smoke alarms and by a neighbor who knocked on their door to alert them of the danger.

"They got out safely, which is the most important thing," Trull said in a news release. "A neighbor really helped by making sure they knew what was happening."

The fire claimed the life of a cat that was inside the residence. One firefighter sustained injuries during the operation and was transported to a hospital for evaluation before being released.

Fire investigators from the state fire marshal's office responded to the scene Thursday. After examining the wreckage, they determined the fire originated outside the home, in the vicinity of a grill. However, officials said the extensive damage to the structure has prevented them from pinpointing the exact cause of the blaze.

The response to the fire drew resources from a wide area. In addition to Kittery firefighters, crews from Eliot, South Berwick, York Beach, and York Village answered the call, along with four New Hampshire fire departments. Stewart's Ambulance Service, the American Red Cross, and personnel from the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard also assisted. Two additional New Hampshire departments provided coverage for Kittery's fire station while crews were occupied at the scene.

Trull took time to recognize the community's response, particularly the neighbors who rallied around the displaced residents.

"Your kindness and humility are truly heartwarming," he said.

The Red Cross is assisting the three displaced residents with their immediate needs, according to officials.