Crews halt Springfield structure fire

A Springfield couple escaped serious harm, but lost a family pet in a house fire on Tuesday night. The Springfield Fire Department responded to a 911 call at 9:45 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 20.

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2016-09-22 / Front Page Crews halt Springfield structure fire By TORY JONES BONENFANT SPRINGFIELD — A Springfield couple escaped serious harm, but lost a family pet in a house fire on Tuesday night. The Springfield Fire Department responded to a 911 call at 9:45 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 20. Mary Skillen, who owns and occupies the single-family home at 6 Overlook Drive with her husband, Kenneth Skillen, called to report heavy smoke, according to Springfield Fire Chief Russ Thompson. The couple, ages 78 and 81, were able to exit the home safely before firefighters arrived on scene, Thompson said. The duty crew requested a first alarm assignment on the initial report. As the crew arrived in the area, the smoke was so thick that it was difficult to identify the appropriate driveway, Thompson said. A second alarm was struck. Crews worked on an active fire in the basement area, with minor fire extension to the first floor and heavy smoke damage throughout, according to Thompson. The fire was quickly knocked down, with hours of extensive overhaul. Crews also remained on the scene throughout the night as a safety measure. The ambulance transported one person from the scene to Springfield Hospital as a precaution, Thompson said. Firefighters were able to rescue one cat from the basement area. Another family pet, a cat, was lost in the fire. Crews from Bellows Falls, Ascutney, Chester and Westminster assisted. The Charlestown Fire Department covered the Springfield station, and responded to a call for service on South Street for a smell of gas while on duty. The Red Cross has been called and is working to help the two displaced homeowners, Thompson said. The house has “extensive damage” in the basement and heat and smoke damage throughout the home, but is not a total loss, Thompson said. It is his understanding that the home was insured, he said. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.