ER Home Destroyed by Fire

An East Randolph man lost his small home to a fast-moving fire Tuesday morning.

John Brown told his neighbor, Barbara Ernst, that he had stepped outside early that morning for a few minutes, and looked up to see the single-story structure engulfed by flames.

Scott Hannon, first assistant fire chief for the East Randolph Fire Department said the fire was reported at around 6:30 a.m. on April 29.

Brown’s home was "pretty much fully gone," by the time firefighters arrived, Hannon said.

The Brookfield and Randolph Center Departments assisted, and firefighters remained on scene until 10:30 a.m., sifting through the remains to make sure the fire was fully out, according to Hannon. The home had gas heat, and it was not clear how the fire started, he added.

Red Cross was contacted and provided some quick support for Brown. Brown, a hunter and trapper, had already moved a mobile home to the property, located a little above the Bailey Covered Bridge Road.