Peabody fire quickly snuffed out

PEABODY – Firefighters quickly extinguished a fire at 15 Martinack Ave. at 8:20 a.m. Thursday.Deputy Fire Chief Paul Hinchion said the fire broke out in or near the kitchen in the rear of the house.Ron and Pat Mansini have lived in the home since 1984 and were shocked at the loss.Pat said she was at work in Danvers when a neighbor called to tell her their home, where they raised three children, was on fire.Marie Kachiniski saw flames shooting out of a window at the rear of the house and immediately called the fire department. No one was in the house at the time and there were no injuries.”We have no idea what happened,” she said. “We haven’t been allowed back in but we think everything is ruined. They told us to go buy new clothes.”Ron Mansini, who was on his way into Boston when he got a call about the fire, said it could have been much worse.”We don’t know where we’re going to stay and the house might be a total loss but it could be worse,” he said. “We have our lives and our health. No one was hurt and that’s what matters.”As they ate lunch at Junction Deli in Lynn , which is owned by their neighbors Charlie and Dotty Christopoulus, Ron praised all his neighbors.”One of our neighbors called Dotty because they knew she had cell number,” he said.”Our friends and neighbors have been wonderful. We have the best neighbors in the world.”Ron said the utilities have all been disconnected and the couple was told not to plan on returning home for at least three months.”The fire was in the back of the house, probably the kitchen,” he said. “But the screen door on the front was black with soot. The police and firefighters were excellent. They were very caring and helpful. Even Mayor Michael Bonfanti was at the house.”Peabody Ladder 1, engines 3,4, and 7 responded to the fire off of Lynn Street.