LEVERETT — A two-story home just east of North Leverett center was destroyed in a fire that was reported at 11:16 p.m. Sunday, according to Fire Chief Michael Visniewski.
Firefighters were informed via the 911 call that the two occupants of the 105 North Leverett Road home, who had no pets, were safely out of the building.
Initially, crews from Leverett, Montague Center, Sunderland, Shutesbury, South Deerfield, Amherst and Turners Falls were called in, but responding Leverett personnel upgraded the fire to a second alarm that led dispatchers to add Erving, Greenfield, New Salem, Wendell, Hadley and Pelham firefighters to the response.
When Leverett personnel first arrived at 11:30 p.m., smoke and fire was visible from all sides and all openings of the structure. An exterior-only attack was used, Visniewski said, due to the high heat output and knowledge that all occupants were out of the home.
North Leverett Road was closed by the Leverett Police Department, allowing about 1,600 feet of supply hose line to be connected to a designated water source at the Cave Hill Road bridge, near the North Leverett Sawmill.
Within two hours, most of the fire had been put out, with the main section partially collapsed from the back side. A Leverett Highway Department excavator was used to tear down the rest of the structure.
Most crews were dismissed at 4:30 a.m. The road was reopened at around 6 a.m. and the last personnel left the scene.
No injuries were reported during the incident. The two occupants will be seeking alternative housing.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but the fire is believed to have started on the back porch, Visniewski said.
During the nearly seven-hour response, an unrelated medical call in town was handled by Leverett firefighters and South County EMS.
