Firefighters from multiple towns responded to a fully involved house fire in Hebron Saturday afternoon, according to Tolland County Dispatch.
Hebron firefighters responded to a house fire at 324 Jagger Lane around 3:15 p.m. The smoke could be seen from half a mile away, according to witnesses.
The Hebron fire chief said that while no injuries were reported, 90 pecent of the home was destroyed. It took seventy firefighters and nine departments one hour to get the fire under control. Mutual aid included firefighters from Andover, Bolton, Columbia, Marlborough, Glastonbury and Manchester.
No one was inside the home at the time, according to fire officials. Neighbors say the homeowners, Ken and Christine Manthorne, were out shopping with their three young children.
"I feel really bad because they're a young couple, it's a beautiful house and they've lost the whole thing, maybe everything in it," Anthony Petrucci said.
Officials said the fire was difficult to fight because the home was set back from the road and firefighters had to bring in the water supply. There was also a propane tank firefighters needed to keep cool.
"When propane starts to heat up and expands relief valves let go and possibly catch fire with the vapors coming out of that," Hebron Fire Chief Nicholas Wallick said. "We try to keep the tank cool, so it doesn't get above the temperature and kick off that relief valve."
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Neighbors are reaching out to help the family cope with the loss. Tonight the family is staying with friends.
"Whatever we can do for them we'd be happy to do," Petrucci added.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation, but the fire marshal does believe it was accidental.
