A Portland family is without a home and without their pets after a “devastating” house fire Monday afternoon. The Portland Fire Department was called to Meshomasic Trail for a report of a fire around 1:30 p.m.; firefighters were told a burning wood pile on the side of a house had caught the home on fire.
Arriving crews found the back of the house engulfed in flames, and it was spreading quickly to the rest of the home. The lack of city water in the rural neighborhood posed a challenge, so additional tankers were requested. The strong wind was also a factor, firefighters said.
There were no human injuries reported, but two pets died, according to fire officials. The home is “a total loss” and the family has been displaced, officials said. Portland FD shared a GoFundMe fundraiser link that was set up for the family.
Numerous neighboring fire departments assisted, including fire departments and EMS units from Middletown, Glastonbury, East Hampton, East Haddam, Middlefield, Haddam, and Marlborough.
