TOPSFIELD — Firefighters battled a Willowdale Road house fire ignited by a gas grill yesterday morning.
Homeowner George Daaboul suffered minor injuries in the blaze that caused about $50,000 damage to the ranch-style home, according to fire Capt. Jen Collins-Brown, who was incident commander at the scene.
The Fire Department received the call just after 10 o'clock yesterday morning.
"It started with a gas grill and went up side of the house," said Collins-Brown. "It had the potential to be very serious, (but) the homeowner was able to recognize the problem and call right away."
Collins-Brown said the fire damaged the porch, siding and eaves of the single-family, wood frame one-story home, located at 54 Willowdale Road.
Firefighters rescued two birds, a hamster and fish from the house. Collins-Brown said there was a large family gathering at the house to celebrate children's birthdays at the time the fire broke out.
"He and his extended family were there," said Collins-Brown.
Daaboul, the homeowner, sustained some minor burns and was treated at the scene by crews from Northeast Regional Ambulance, she said.
Two Topsfield fire engines and one ladder truck responded to the fire. The Ipswich Fire Department assisted at the scene, and Boxford provided station coverage.
Rehab Five, a Peabody-based nonprofit, also responded to the scene aid to firefighters.
Firefighters cleared the scene at 11:30 a.m. Collins-Brown said the fire did not displace the family from their Willowdale Road home, located by the perimeter of Bradley Palmer State Park, off Ipswich Road.
"(The homeowners) have a lot to clean up," said Collins-Brown, "but it's safe for them to be there."
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