A fire that erupted late Thursday night on Nantucket has left a Pine Crest Drive home severely damaged, but all members of the family inside were able to quickly escape harm. The blaze, reported around 10 p.m., was battled by the Nantucket Fire Department, which responded promptly to the incident.
According to the Nantucket Current, Fire Chief Michael Cranson stated, "The fire alarm went off and woke them up." He went on to detail how the father conducted a quick search to verify the situation, subsequently managed to quickly grab his children, and safely evacuate the house. The urgency of the moment, split by a sounding alarm, roused not just a household but also the spirit of a community invariably bound to rescue and redeem.
The WCVB reported a family with several children inside the home at the time of the fire. All were accounted for and reported safe after the flames, which produced a night sky incandescence caught on video, were extinguished by fire crews. First responders emphasized the fortunate escape of the family in such tangible jeopardy.
Firefighters found the south side of the house at 8 Pine Crest Drive completely engulfed upon arrival, per Cranson. Nearly 20 fire personnel swiftly worked to control the fire, saving much of the house from total destruction. Cranson told the Nantucket Current that the fire started outside the home and the cause is under investigation. "We're not sure exactly what started it, but it went up the whole side of the house, caused a window to fail, and got inside the house," Cranson explained.
According to the Nantucket Current, there was "major damage to that side of the home," Cranson said, mentioning a set of stairs leading up to the second floor that was destroyed. "Inside the house, there was moderate damage from fire, smoke, and water." Fire crews were able to fully extinguish the flames and cleared the scene just before midnight, containing the destruction within a boundary of professionalism meant to keep disaster at bay. The incident underscores the perils that can unravel swiftly, pressing upon the thin veil that separates tranquility from disaster.
