Groton Fire Department Extinguishes 2-Alarm Blaze in Converted Barn Residence

The Groton Fire Department extinguished a fire on Sunday, April 19, in a former barn that was converted into a residential structure at 180 Martins Pond Road. (Photo Courtesy Dunstable Fire Department)

GROTON — Chief Arthur Cheeks reports that the Groton Fire Department responded to a 2-alarm fire in a converted barn residence on Sunday morning on Martins Pond Road.

At approximately 9:50 a.m. on April 19, Groton Fire Department crews responded to a report of a fire at 180 Martins Pond Road. Firefighters and a Groton Police officer who were first to the scene found a building that was on fire and occupied by two individuals at the time of the incident.

Heavy flames were found at the rear of the building, a 2.5-story converted barn residence that is attached to a single-story home via a breezeway.

Groton firefighters stretched two hose lines to the rear of the structure — one to extinguish the fire in the converted barn and another to protect the single-story home. Nine other fire departments then arrived to provide mutual aid and additional crews were directed as needed.

The occupants of the home safely evacuated and then were evaluated on scene, before being released by Lunenburg Rescue 1 paramedics. No injuries were reported, but several pets are unaccounted for as a result of the fire.

The home sustained heavy fire, water and smoke damage.

Groton Fire crews remained on scene dousing remaining pockets of smoldering fire until clearing the scene around 1:30 p.m.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Groton Fire Department together with the Massachusetts State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit attached to the State Fire Marshal’s Office. 

The Groton Fire Department response included Engine 1, Engine 3, 60-C, 60-C1, Ladder 1 and two ambulances.

Mutual aid was provided by the fire departments of Ayer, Littleton, Dunstable, Pepperell, Devens, Lunenburg, Tyngsborough, Hollis and Westford. Harvard Fire and Townsend Fire each supplied an engine to provide station coverage for Groton while its crews were working.

Additional assistance was provided by the Groton Police Department and Patriot Regional Emergency Communications Center. The Tyngsborough CERT Team also came to the scene to provide water to keep the fire personnel hydrated as they worked on scene.

“I’d like to give credit to our Groton Firefighters and mutual aid partners. This was a difficult fire that threatened to spread to the neighboring building,” said Chief Cheeks. “Thanks to their efforts, this fire was contained and no one was hurt.”

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