Terrifying moment barrage of fireworks launch from huge house blaze as firefighters battle inferno
SHOCKING photos show the moment firefighters battled a raging inferno that launched fireworks into the night sky, destroying two homes days before Christmas.
Spencer, a town in Massachusetts, was rocked on Sunday when two homes were destroyed and a third damaged in a blaze that forced responders to think on their feet.
No injuries were reported in the incident but two families have “lost everything,” Spencer Fire & Emergency Services have said.
The inferno was reported at 4 pm the day before Christmas Eve.
But, first responders faced major problems in tackling the fire ranging from ice, limited fire hydrants, and explosives.
The raging fire lit up the street with firefighters surrounding the property as fireworks exploded around them.
From another angle, the wooden property with an American flag outside had thick black smoke billowing out of the destroyed roof as a firefighter looked on.
Some personnel were forced to duck and cover as fireworks continued to explode and the fire moved to surrounding trees and property.
Multiple firefighters tackled the blaze as pops and bangs can be heard in the distance.
Two firefighters fell through some ice during the incident as they desperately tried to get water from a nearby pond.
The emergency response was somewhat delayed due to a lack of fire hydrants in the area with 85 per cent of the community being without hydrants forcing the firefighters to think on their feet.
The fire service has confirmed that those who fell into the icy water were not harmed.
Oakham Fire Department which was also in attendance at the blaze posted a statement about the incident on Facebook.
The fire service said: “Last night Oakham Fire along with multiple mutual aid departments responded to Spencer for this multi-alarm fire.
“Oakham Engine 2 fed the first due engines with the help of numerous tankers.
“While the driver of the Engine supplied water the Oakham crew from Engine 2 fought icy conditions, exploding fireworks and venting propane tanks working alongside Rutland members in one of the exposure buildings.”
Spencer Fire Chief Robert Parsons told NBC News: “They had a lot of propane tanks in the basement that were going off and they had a lot of fireworks in the home that were shooting off at us as we were trying to fight the fire.”
My neighbor called me and said my house is on fire and I need to get home.
Justin Peck
He added that if there had been stronger winds the situation could have been much worse.
“We may have lost more homes if it was blowing the other side, we probably would’ve lost that home on the other side,” the Fire Chief said.
One neighbor commented on the post thanking the emergency workers for their help.
“Thank you for saving the rest of the houses on the street. It was terrible with all the explosions and how quick it went up,” George Mka said.
He added that Robert, the owner of one of the destroyed homes, was a widower who had lived at the property with his late wife “for many years.”
Robert is said to be staying with his family who live in the same street and has received support from the Red Cross.
His neighbor Justin Peck whose home also caught fire and was destroyed was visiting his wife at a nearby hospital at the time.
The pairs dog thankfully made it out of the home unscathed.
He said: “My neighbor called me and said my house is on fire and I need to get home.
“It just sucks about the holidays. The memories that are gone in the houses that can’t get back.”
But Parsons believes some of the contents of Peck’s home could be salvageable.
“Looking inside it looks like there will be some things that they can take out of the home so they didn’t lose everything that was in the home,” the chief said.
The third property impacted by the fire sustained exterior damage only.
An investigation has been launched into what caused the fire.