Courtesy photo A pair of trees frame two firefighters as they try to knock back heavy flames shooting from the front porch of a Hudson residence Saturday.

HUDSON — Heavy flames had already engulfed a front porch and were making their way into the main part of Larry and Nancy Burton’s Hudson home when first-arriving firefighters pulled up Saturday morning.

Fire Captain Kevin Blinn said in a statement that the residence, at 21 Alvirne Drive, is not inhabitable and is most likely a total loss. He said the cause has been ruled accidental, but didn’t provide details of how, or where in the home, the fire started.

He said Fire Prevention Officer Steven Dube is heading up the investigation.

Blinn said Nancy Burton called around 6:45 a.m. to report the fire. She and her husband had made their way outside by the time firefighters arrived, Blinn said, but a cat perished in the blaze.

The home, which sits back from Alvirne Drive near the corner of Patricia Drive, abuts part of the Hills Garrison Elementary School campus and is about 200 yards from Alvirne High School.

Blinn, the incident commander, said a second alarm was sounded shortly after the first crews arrived, which brought to the scene crews from Nashua, Londonderry, Pelham and Windham to assist Hudson.

Firefighters from Litchfield, Manchester, and Tyngsborough and Dracut Massachusetts covered Hudson stations, Blinn said.

In all, 36 first-responders manning six engines, two ladder trucks and two tankers responded to the scene, he said.

The blaze was reported under control at 8:10 a.m., and the all-clear signal was given at 8:30. Blinn said a few firefighters remained on the scene for overhaul operations, which involves checking for and extinguishing any hot spots.

Once that process was complete, workers from a local company boarded up the burned-out windows and doorways for security purposes.

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.

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