ROCKPORT — A small fire in a two-story home on Forest Street destroyed a bathroom and caused smoke damage throughout the house Sunday morning, authorities said.
A woman who lives in the house at 26B Forest St. was not injured in the blaze, which started in the first-floor bathroom around 8 a.m.
Authorities would not identify the woman, but said she was taken to the Rockport Police station along with her dog where they remained until the woman's daughter picked her up, Fire Chief Jim Doyle said yesterday.
While the first-floor bathroom was a total loss, Doyle praised the more than two dozen volunteer firefighters who responded for their efforts to prevent water damage and contain the flames to one room.
"There was smoke coming out of the windows on all sides of the building when we arrived," Doyle said. "There was a slow response because of the (inclement) weather; given the weather conditions, they did a real good job to contain (the fire) to one room."
Doyle said the cause of the fire — his first fought as chief — is still under investigation, but is not considered suspicious. The woman told officials she had no idea how the blaze started, he added.
Several windows and the home's rear doorway could be seen boarded up yesterday afternoon.
Records in the Southern Essex County Registry of Deeds shows Florence T. Debakey purchased the home in 2007 for $450,000.
The homeowner called police at 8:06 Sunday morning to report of activated smoke detectors.
She called back a short time later saying she could see smoke inside the home. Police advised her to exit the building at that point.
"Everyone did what they were supposed to do," the chief said. "The main thing is that nobody got hurt."
Jonathan L'Ecuyer can be reached at 978-283-7000 x 3451 or jlecuyer@gloucestertimes.com.
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