By Bruno Matarazzo Jr.
IPSWICH — A woman and her dog are safe after a fire swept through their home on Great Neck last night and caused massive destruction.
The two-alarm fire, which started at 6:30 p.m., is under investigation by the Ipswich Fire Department and the state fire marshal's office.
Fire Lt. Donald George said at the scene last night it was too early to determine the cause of the blaze.
The two-story home at 27 Bayview Road sits at the corner of Clark Road and has picturesque views of Ipswich Bay and Plum Island.
But the tranquil scenes there turned into a backdrop for panic yesterday when neighbors spotted flames coming from the home owned by Annmarie Hughes.
Nancy Marlowe, who lives next door, said a family member of a neighbor went into the house to get Hughes out of the building. But when the two didn't come out, she said John Mulkerin, another neighbor on Bayview Road, rushed into the burning house to rescue the two.
He also saved Hughes' poodle, Victoria, who was later reunited with Hughes.
"Luckily, they're all safe," acting police Chief Paul Nikas said.
Mulkerin declined to speak about his efforts last night.
Hughes was not taken to the hospital. Family members rushed to the scene, and she and her dog are staying with them.
Firefighters extinguished the fire in about 45 minutes. Then they began a difficult job of getting into the walls to check for hidden flames.
George said there are cathedral ceilings in part of the home, making it hard to get to walls on the upper level. Also, a staircase to the second floor was damaged, forcing firefighters to use ladders to get to that part of the interior.
The home was fully ablaze when firefighters arrived at the scene. The trio quickly set up a hose and began attacking the fire.
"There were only three of us here at the time," George said. "As more people started showing up and got more truck, we got more (fire hose) lines going."
Another problem for Ipswich was having one fewer piece of equipment, the town's ladder truck, than normal. The truck was damaged in August at a three-alarm fire at Melanson's Boat Shop and is still being repaired.
Assisting Ipswich firefighters were Essex and Rowley fire departments. Essex brought their ladder truck to the scene. Hamilton, Wenham and Topsfield firefighters covered the Ipswich station during the incident.
Action Ambulance and Rehab Five, a Peabody-based volunteer unit that furnishes bottled water and other support to firefighters, were at the scene.
