TOPSFIELD — A stove fire quickly spread throughout the kitchen of a Main Street apartment last night and came close to ripping through the entire building, the fire chief said.
Firefighters were able to stop the fire from spreading and also rescued a cat that ran back in the apartment as the owners were trying to get out. The fire was called in around 8 p.m.
Tigger was found in the apartment and returned to his owners, Lauren Murphy and her boyfriend, Dan Soffron. Firefighters also gave a customized-for-pets oxygen mask to Soffron to place over Tigger's face.
Topsfield fire Capt. Jenifer Collins Brown said the oxygen and mask were donated to the department, and last night was the first time they were used.
Afterward, Murphy and Soffron rushed the cat to Alex's Roast Beef and Pizza down the street, where employees there gave the cat some water and shelter from the drama of the fire scene.
Fire Chief Ronald Giovannacci said the cause of the fire is under investigation, but it does not appear to be suspicious. The fire had spread throughout the kitchen when firefighters arrived.
The state fire marshal's office responded to the scene to investigate.
The chief said he called for additional help from nearby fire departments, Boxford and Ipswich, because of the risks of the fire spreading throughout the home. There was a strong chance of that happening because the building is old and has balloon framing.
Balloon framing relies on the use of long wall studs from the foundation to the upper stories of the home, in effect creating a series of chimneys from the basement to the attic.
Murphy said they couldn't put out the fire immediately after it started because the landlord didn't provide them with a new fire extinguisher, which they requested.
Soffron said he grabbed their dog, Fenway, and cat Lila, but when he went to grab Tigger, the cat became scared and ran back inside.
Soffron said he and his girlfriend will be staying with his parents, who live nearby.
Giovannacci said other residents in the building will also be staying with family at least for one day. The ground floor of the 49 Main St. building contains an art gallery and the Tri-Town Council on Youth and Family Services.
The Middleton and Danvers fire departments provided station coverage.
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