A New Ipswich couple escaped unharmed from a Tuesday morning house fire that left their home totaled and killed several animals.
The New Ipswich Fire Department responded to a report of smoke and flames coming from a two-story house on Fox Farm Road shortly before 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, according to Fire Chief Meredith Lund.
“When we arrived, most of the garage was fully involved in flame,” Lund said.
Homeowners Melanie and Jeff Cousino were both home when the fire broke out, according to Lund, and first noticed smoke – and then flames – coming from the back of the two-story home.
The Cousinos breed German shepherds and had several cats and dogs, including a litter of puppies, in the home. The couple attempted to save as many of their animals as they could while exiting the house and calling for help, Lund said. Two cats and three puppies and a pet mouse were killed in the fire.
Melanie Cousino said the situation was worsened by the couple’s inability to call for help immediately.
“We couldn’t call for help. We had no cell service. We lost 10 minutes, and those 10 minutes are crucial,” Cousino said Wednesday. “We’re lucky we were able to get the animals out that we did.”
It was neighbors who called in the blaze. Kari Lowe, who lives across the road from the Cousinos, said she saw smoke pouring out of the neighbors property, and immediately knew something was wrong. She went out to the road, and met another neighbor, who had already dialed 911, and then said they began trying to help the Cousinos round up their animals, the dogs having scattered as they were released from the house.
The Cousinos had left the house with literally nothing but their animals, Lowe said, without even shoes on.
“We did what we could, getting the seven adult dogs gathered up, and six puppies,” Lowe said. “It was chaotic, but quite a few animals were saved.”
Heather Boucher, who lives down the road from the Cousinos, said she met Melanie Cousino “immediately” when she moved to town five years ago. The two had bred their dogs several times together, and the litter that the Cousinos lost three puppies from was the result of her male German shepherd and the Cousinos’ female.
“Unfortunately, we lost three puppies in the fire,” Boucher said. But Melanie and Jeff escaping unhurt was “the most important thing,” she said.
“She’s a kind-hearted person. She loves animals and is constantly taking them in, even wild animals,” Boucher said.
Boucher said the town had already gotten underway with ways to help the couple get back on their feet.
“I’ve seen this town come together on many occasions, and I’m sure they will now,” Boucher said. “I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.”
Lowe said one adult dog had run away in fright, and Melanie Cousino insisted on staying at the property for several hours, to meet the dog when it returned, which it eventually did, Lowe said.
“She has adult children, but those dogs are her babies right now,” Lowe said. “She wasn’t leaving while one was still missing. All Mel was talking about was her dogs. She knew the house was gone. She just wanted her dogs.”
Cousino is an employee at the New Ipswich Market, and a bucket for cash donations or gift cards has been set up on the market counter, along with other town fundraisers that have been started. Lowe said it’s just the Cousino’s giving spirit coming back around.
“Everyone in town has always said, Mel is the first person to step up if anyone needs anything at all in town, if there’s a fire or a loved one has passed,” Lowe said.
Fire crews were able to save at least one room of the house, and the basement, but aside from preserving the possessions in those areas, Lund said the home itself is a total loss.
Lund said the fire is not considered suspicious at this time, but the point of origin and the cause of the fire are still under investigation. Fire crews believe the fire started in the back of the house in the area of the chimney, but Lund could not say whether the chimney was the point of origin for the blaze.
Mutual aid was provided by Jaffrey, Peterborough, Ashby, Ashburnham, Greenville, Milford and Rindge. Crews cleared the scene at 11 a.m.
A relief fund for the Cousinos has been established at TD Bank. A GoFundMe account has been set up in their name and is available at tinyurl.com/cousinofire. Rejuve Array Jewelery is hosting a fundraiser selling jewelry with pawprints and the word “Milovat” or Czech for “to love” in honor of Melanie Cousino’s Czech heritage, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the Cousinos. Visit the Rejuve Array Jewelry page for more information about pricing and how to order.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.