Photo by JEFFREY HASTINGS Although faced with heavy fire upon their arrival to the barn fire on Tuesday, firefighters were able to prevent the flames from spreading to the adjacent residence at 9 Townsend Hill Road.

BROOKLINE – Firefighters from several towns headed to Brookline late Tuesday morning, bringing much-needed personnel and tanker trucks to help battle flames that engulfed a large barn and threatened the adjacent residence at 9 Townsend Hill Road.

Reports from the scene indicated a Brookline firefighter was injured, but was able to walk to one of the ambulances called in to stand by during the blaze.

According to an unconfirmed report, a resident of the house was also treated for injuries.

The property is in the southern part of town, just south of where Townsend Hill Road splits from Route 13 and roughly a half-mile from the Townsend, Massachusetts town line.

Callers alerted Brookline firefighters to the blaze around 11 a.m., and first arriving crews were faced with heavy fire coming from the barn, which appeared to be a three-story structure with four bays on the lower level.

Photo by JEFFREY HASTINGS A firefighter inspects the smoldering debris left by the fire that raced through this large barn at 9 Townsend Hill Road in Brookline Tuesday.

Fire officials ordered a second alarm moments after arrival to bring more firefighters to the scene as well as additional tankers to supply water to the engines and pumper trucks, due to the lack of hydrants in the rural area.

While several crews concentrated on knocking down the heavy flames from the barn, others were assigned to pour water on the house to protect it from the fire.

Crews from the various towns worked together to set up a so-called “drafting pool,” which resembles a square swimming pool about 3-4 feet deep into which one or more engines pump water from a nearby pond, river or similar source.

The engines and pumpers at the fire scene then begin pumping water from the pool as crews fight the blaze.

Meanwhile, initial reports indicate the house was largely spared from fire damage, but may have sustained some damage from smoke and water.

Photo by JEFFREY HASTINGS Heavy smoke pours from the large barn in Brookline that went up in flames Tuesday.

Once the fire was brought under control, officials requested an excavator to the scene to move around smoldering debris to expose hot spots so firefighters could fully extinguish them.

Traffic was rerouted around the scene, which altered bus routes and student pick-up times for the nearby Captain Samuel Douglass Academy.

Jeffrey Hastings contributed to this report.

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

Photo by JEFFREY HASTINGS Crews work to knock down and extinguish the flames that engulfed a Brookline barn late Tuesday morning.