3-alarm fire in Billerica destroys home, two cars parked nearby

BILLERICA, Mass. — Three people escaped a Billerica home destroyed by fire Thursday night.

Homeowner Rob Rawson told Boston 25 News he was sleeping outside on his farmer's porch when he noticed smoke surrounding him around 5:30 p.m. He ran inside the smoke-filled home on Riveredge Road and pounded on the doors to alert his friends inside.

“I’ve never called 911 before. I didn’t know how to do it. I was panicking. You just freeze, you know?” Rawson said. “So I’m pounding on doors. I got everybody out.”

Neighbor Roland McMahon grabbed his dog and ran barefoot from his home next door, quickly putting out the flames that had spread to the siding on his house.

McMahon shot cell phone video of the fire as popping could be heard from a Comcast van and another vehicle in flames.

"Grab the dog and go. That was it," McMahon said, adding that he was worried his home would be leveled, too.

Dealing with hot weather and difficult conditions, firefighters spent hours putting out the flames and hot spots that popped up.

“When the engines and ladder got here, they couldn’t make it past the street,” said Chief Robert Cole. “The flames were coming across the street. They couldn’t even get to the hydrant right in front of the house.”

Local firefighters and the state fire marshal are investigating the cause of the fire.

Rawson said he has no idea how and where the fire started, but he smelled smoke all day.

"I smelled smoke this morning at 6 a.m., and I smelled it again at noon," Rawson said. "I called my friend, and I'm like, 'Something's burning in the neighborhood.' Apparently it was my house."

All occupants were able to exit the house safely.

A neighbor who had the siding of his house melted because of the fire grabbed his dog and ran out of the house barefoot. His family and the house are safe.

Rawson and neighbors are grateful no lives were lost.

“Even though some things are definitely going to be lost in that fire, at least it was nobody’s life,” McMahon said.

Companies from neighboring towns assisted in the response. Fire engines from Burlington, Bedford and Chelmsford were called in to help put out the fire, along with Billerica engines 1 through 5.

The fire also completely consumed two cars that were parked next to the house.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

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