TOPSFIELD, Mass — A Topsfield mansion next to a golf course was destroyed after towering flames engulfed the nearly $2 million residence Friday evening.
Firefighters rushed to the expansive home at 82 Coppermine Road as intense flames ripped through the building around 5 p.m. Heavy smoke billowed high into the air as the home below burnt.
A neighbor told Boston 25 News they could feel the heat coming off the mansion as flames swallowed the structure.
“Someone heard an explosion and it was literally gone in minutes, 15 or 20 minutes, gone,” remarked Tony Roselli.
Drone video showed that the structure of the home collapsed and only the chimney was left standing just after 6 p.m.
According to Zillow, the 7-bedroom, 7,300-square-foot home is worth roughly $1,995,100.
Roselli told Boston 25 he was almost in tears as he walked up the burning mansion.
“Just a gorgeous mansion, about 8,000 square feet, double-decker,” said Roselli. “Really beautiful, beautiful home. Just very sad.”
Topsfield fire chief Jenifer Collins-Brown told Boston 25 that the residents were not home at the time and are on vacation. The fire spread quickly, forcing firefighters to work from behind, according to Collins-Brown.
“The challenge was the fire definitely had a head start on us. It was way, way ahead of us. It was fully involved when I arrived,” Collins-Brown said.
Parts of the nearby Ferncoft Country Club golf course also caught fire but no other homes in the neighborhood were damaged.
Topsfield firefighters will be watching the area all night to make sure it doesn’t flare back up.
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