Somersworth residents describe escaping duplex fire with young kids: 'We were so lucky'

SOMERSWORTH — Ana Rodriguez and Alex MacIntosh began to panic Monday afternoon, when they heard their neighbor banging on their door shouting, "Fire!"

They grabbed their children, including an infant, as well as their dog, before running outside to find their neighbor’s side of their shared three-story duplex on fire. Their neighbor and his dog also made it out safely from the 114 Green St. home.

“We made it to the sidewalk, and I left the door open to grab her shoes and keys, which were right by the front door. In those few minutes, I can already smell the smoke. I stepped back outside and you could see the smoke rolling and flames busting through the roof,” MacIntosh said.

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Rodriguez said she believes the fire started on the neighbor’s side, either inside the wall or in the upper attic eaves, and quickly spread to her 10-year-old son's room on the third floor adjacent to it. She said she’s thankful he was at school.

“We’re so lucky,” Rodriguez said, clutching her 3-month-old baby in her arms. “If this had happened at night or when my eldest son was home, who knows what could have happened. We’re safe, and that’s what matters."

Somersworth Fire Chief George Kramlinger said when the first crews turned on to Green Street they found smoke pushing out of the left side of the duplex, with fire visible on the roof. It was considered a first-alarm fire.

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“We advanced the line up the stairs, put water on the fire, and then opened up the concealed structural spaces in the roof up there where the fire was still inside,” Kramlinger said.

Crews from Berwick, Dover, Durham, Rochester, and Newington responded to the fire. South Berwick and Newington helped cover Somersworth's station.

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“Everybody did a fantastic job, both Somersworth personnel who were first on scene as well as all our mutual aid partners that assisted,” Kramlinger said.

Kramlinger said he’s unsure of the cause of the fire, and it is under investigation.

The chief urged residents to check their smoke detectors regularly.

“Smoke detectors save lives,” Kramlinger said.

Rodriguez urged parents to have escape plans with their children, so they know where to go during the chaos of a fire.

The family of five will not be able to re-enter their home, due to the smoke, fire and water damage. Rodriguez’s mother, who rushed to the scene, assured they will be taken care of.

The family has set up a GoFundMe to help offset their unexpected expenses.

This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: Somersworth NH residents escape fire at 114 Green St.