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Owners watch as Milton firefighters struggle to save their home

E-mail|Link|Comments () August 12, 2010 03:12 PM

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(John Tlumacki/Globe Staff)

MILTON – Firefighters pour water on an Adams Street home today. The multiple alarm fire caused massive damage to the 164-year-old house. The cause is under investigation.

By Marissa Lang, Globe Correspondent and John R. Ellement, Globe Staff

MILTON – As the owners watched with tears in their eyes, a ferocious fire ripped through a 164-year-old Adams Street single family home today, heavily damaging the building.

The owners were identified by officials as Joseph and Paula Killion, both of whom are attorneys. No one was at home when the fire broke out, officials said.

The couple this afternoon stood underneath a small tent behind police tape, watching as the firefighters from Milton and at least two other communities fought to bring the multiple alarm fire under control.

The Colonial-style house was built in 1846 and has 17 rooms, four bedrooms, four baths and is currently assessed at $1.1 million, town records show.

According to Milton police and fire officials, neighbors spotted flames pouring out of the rear of the home and called 911 at 11:14 a.m.

A Milton police officer working a detail nearby rushed to the home, but was forced back by heavy fire conditions, said Police Lieutenant Kevin Foley. He said damage was so extensive the home may end up being declared a total loss.

This afternoon, Fire Chief John Grant said arriving firefighters faced the same dangerous conditions on the first and second floors, and quickly called for help from the Quincy and Boston fire departments.

By the afternoon, the fire had spread to the third floor, Grant said. He said it was "way too early" to say what the cause was, or to estimate the extent of the damage caused by the fire.

Grant said firefighters had to jury rig a way to supply water to fire trucks because of a Massachusetts Water Resources Authority project was underway replacing water pipes in the neighborhood. He said they found a way to keep trucks properly supplied with water.

Firefighters remain on the scene this afternoon.