Firefighters avoid fireworks as three homes burn in Spencer

The cause of a dramatic house fire that turned explosive in Spencer is under investigation.

Fire officials said the preliminary investigation indicates the flames started outside a home on East Avenue.

Fast-moving flames completely destroyed the house, leaving the structure unrecognizable.

A stash of fireworks and propane tanks that were inside the house exploded and caused tense moments.

“There were rockets and everything was blowing up,” Spencer Fire Chief Justin Peck said. “We were just making sure we didn’t get hit by the bottle rockets!”

The flames spread to a neighboring home and caused significant damage.

The homeowner told Boston 25 News he was visiting his wife in the hospital when he received an urgent phone call from a neighbor.

“It really sucks for missing vacations and memories that we can’t get back,” said owner Justin Peck.

Peck believes the house they have lived in for more than two decades is a total loss.

He said his wife was hospitalized two weeks ago with serious health problems.

“You try to live and do what you need to do, and it keeps bringing you down. All you can do is get back up,” Peck said.

The destructive flames also burned the siding of a third house.

Firefighters said an elderly man who owns the home where the fire broke out was with a neighbor when the fire occurred.

Crews struggled to get water to the burning house in extremely icy conditions and called in water trucks to deliver water.

Neighbors in the area lost power for most of the night due to damaged equipment.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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