House fire caused by overheated appliance

Oct. 13--SOMERSWORTH -- A two-alarm blaze Friday that destroyed a house on Chesley Avenue was caused by an overheated dehumidifier.

Fire Lt. Kenneth Vincent, the investigator at the scene, determined the cause was a dehumidifier on the second floor of the home, according to Somersworth Fire Chief Keith Hoyle.

"It overheated and it burned down through the floor, but also burned up through the ceiling," Hoyle said. "The fire dropped down into the first floor and up into the attic at the same time."

According to Hoyle, the family was not at home when the blaze broke out, but three dogs were killed in the fire.

Donald Chick, a next-door neighbor, discovered the fire when he came outside to walk his own dog.

"I heard the beep, beep, beep, of the smoke detectors," Chick said. "At first, I thought it was a truck backing up, and then I looked around and saw the smoke coming out of the second-story window so I ran back inside and told my wife to call 911."

Chick and others tried to break down the door to get the dogs out, but were not able to do so.

The fire went to a second alarm and companies from Dover, Durham, Rollinsford, Rochester, Newington, as well as Berwick and South Berwick, Maine, assisted Somersworth at the blaze.

Hoyle said the home is a total loss. He said the family had insurance and are working with the insurance company. Meanwhile a gofundme account has been set up to help the owner with expenses. The link is https://www.gofundme.com/2n64aksc.

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