ERVING — Firefighters from multiple towns were called to a house fire at 15 Prospect Heights Lane in Erving Tuesday afternoon.
A first alarm was struck shortly after 5 p.m., and the situation was later upgraded to a three-alarm fire, calling for more mutual aid. According to Erving Fire Chief Philip Wonkka and the homeowners’ family, everyone got out of the house with no reported injuries.
The flames were in a room in the center of the home’s second floor. Smoke billowed out of the vents and seeped up through the shingles as firefighters entered the home in rotations. Others approached the house from the front and back, using ladders to reach the top floor with hoses.
Wonkka said the fire was difficult to get to and extinguish because it was building inside the walls.
“It was a stubborn fire,” Wonkka said, after two hours battling the flames.
Wonkka said the suspected cause was a lightning strike during a brief afternoon thunderstorm, though he said the state Fire Marshal’s Office will confirm the cause.
A resident’s account noted the same likely cause.
“The storm started and a loud crack of lightning hit the house,” said Erik Johnson, who was home at the time. Erik Johnson said his son suddenly smelled smoke coming from the back bedroom, and within minutes the entire upstairs was filled with smoke.
Erik lives in the home with his uncle Raymond Johnson, the homeowner. The Johnsons also act as caretakers for two other men with disabilities who live in the house. They will all stay with family for the time being.
Chris Johnson, Raymond’s son, arrived at the house shortly after the fire was reported.
“This is a three-generation house,” Chris Johnson said. “There is a lot of heart and soul built into it.”
As he pointed out the trees that had been planted in memory of his grandfather, and the area where they had buried family dogs, he said the reality of the situation was nearly impossible to grasp.
Chris Johnson said his father breeds Labradors. A kennel where the dogs live is located right next to the home. Fortunately, the family was able to get the dogs away from the home and to safety.
At least nine trucks and engines arrived from the Erving, Turners Falls, Northfield, Orange, Phillipston, Shutesbury and Leverett fire departments. Northfield EMS also responded.
Zack DeLuca can be reached at zdeluca@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 264.