NASHUA – In a rare departure from the typical sequence of events, firefighters at Nashua’s Station 2 on Lake Street assumed the role of “reporting parties” for a Saturday evening fire before heading out toward the “thick column of black smoke” they noticed rising in the western sky.

Moments later, dispatchers began receiving calls for the same fire, which was initially described as “in the area of the Canterbury Apartments” at Northeastern Boulevard and Main Dunstable Road.

Having had the benefit of getting a head start out of the station, the crews of Engine 2 and Ladder 2 arrived even as additional reports were being received by callers who were able to narrow down the source of the fire to a motorhome behind 118 Northeastern Boulevard, fire officials said.

The Engine 6 crew out of the Conant Road station promptly joined Engine and Ladder 2 at the scene, their first priority being knocking back flames enough to allow firefighters to enter the vehicle to make sure nobody was inside.

NFR Deputy Chief James Kirk said the motorhome was “fully involved in fire” when crews arrived, but they were able to knock down the worst of the flames before fully extinguishing the blaze within a few minutes.

The search confirmed the motorhome was vacant, Kirk added.

He said a member of the city Fire Marshal’s office was summoned to the scene to launch an investigation with police into the circumstances and cause of the fire.

That investigation is ongoing, Kirk said.

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