The Lowell Sun
PELHAM, Mass. — A pair of quick-thinking passers-by are being credited with helping to save a centuries-sold Sherburne Road home after they contained a fire by throwing snow onto it, fire officials said.
The good Samaritans were driving past the house about 2 p.m. yesterday when one of them noticed flames. They called 911 and then proceeded to douse the blaze with snow, managing to keep the flames at bay until police Sgt. Michael Pickles arrived and “hit it with a fire extinguisher,” Fire Chief Michael Walker said.
Pickles said most of the flames were knocked down by the extinguisher.
Firefighters, who were responding to a medical call elsewhere in Pelham, arrived shortly later.
The 256-year-old home, which was unoccupied, is made of heavy timber and would have become engulfed had Pickles and the passers-by not intervened, Walker said.
The fire was accidental, fire officials said.