Middletown Firefighters Assist on Two Portsmouth Blazes

have been busy the past 24 hours, assisting with two reported blazes in Portsmouth.

at a two-story house at 222 Point Road.

"Someone called in from The Cove and said it appeared to be an outside fire," said Portsmouth Deputy Chief Michael Cranson. "There was heavy fire at the back of the house, the exterior. The fire extended into the interior, as well." 

Crews managed to put the fire under control within 30 minutes. However, the property's long driveway and chilly conditions made the fight difficult. 

Middletown and Tiverton fire crews assisted Portsmouth as the scene. Members of the Bristol Fire Department manned the Portsmouth station during the response. 

Then this morning, an area of , a senior-housing complex on Middle Road, in the rear of the complex. 

More than 150 residents were asked to leave their homes and walk to the community room at the opposite side of the housing complex, which is . The fire broke out in one of the vacant apartments currently under construction. 

The blaze, reported at 9:22 a.m., is believed to have started in the kitchen area of the second-floor, vacant apartment in the rear of the building. 

Responding to Friday's fire were members of the Portsmouth, Middletown, Tiverton, Bristol and Navy Fire Departments. Members of the Bristol Fire Department manned the fire station.