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November 16, 2009

Two-alarm fire damages Ipswich home

By Bruno Matarazzo Jr.

IPSWICH — The cause of a fire at a Pleasant Street home on Saturday is under investigation.

No one was injured in the fire, which does not appear suspicious, fire officials said.

Firefighters responded to 25 Pleasant St., shortly after 1 p.m. after a neighbor spotted the fire coming from the screened-in porch area.

The two-alarm fire caused heavy damage to the rear of the home, and there was smoke and water damage throughout.

Fire Chief Arthur Howe said the damage was easily in excess of $100,000.

Howe said the fire appeared to have started on the porch.

A neighbor spotted the fire and went next door and started banging on the door to get the attention of the homeowner, Donald Chaisson, said Howe.

There was no smoke or fire in the home when Chaisson answered the door. Shortly afterward, both began showing up fast.

Howe said it took firefighters about 15 minutes to knock down the bulk of the fire. Then they began getting into the walls to check for hidden flames. Firefighters attacked the fire on both floors from inside the home. Firefighters from Essex, Topsfield, Hamilton, and Rowley assisted Ipswich at the scene.

The state fire marshal's office, Ipswich fire and police investigators are investigating the fire.

Firefighters from Newbury, Manchester, and Wenham provided station coverage.

Chaisson is staying nearby at a friend's home.

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