Ipswich, Rowley firefighters rescue two from burning home
IPSWICH, Mass. (Monday, Aug. 18, 2025) — Firefighters from Ipswich and Rowley rescued an elderly man and his son from the second floor of a burning home Monday after flames and heavy smoke cut off all other escape routes, officials said.
The Ipswich Fire Department was dispatched at 11:51 a.m. to Linebrook Farm, 383 Linebrook Road, following a 911 call reporting people trapped inside. Police officers arrived minutes later to find fire showing from both the front and rear of the house but were unable to enter due to heavy smoke.
At 11:58 a.m., Ipswich and Rowley crews arrived and launched an immediate rescue. Rowley Lts. Merissa Titus-Abate and Matt Harney accessed the second floor with a portable ladder and located the elderly resident and his son, who had run inside from a neighboring home to help. Ipswich Lt. Patrick Dingle and Firefighter Blake Emerson followed with a hose line and assisted in bringing both men down the ladder to safety.
The elderly man was transported by Action Ambulance to Anna Jacques Hospital in Newburyport for smoke inhalation and later transferred to a Boston hospital. His son declined hospital care.
Once the rescues were complete, firefighters attacked the blaze but were forced to switch to defensive operations as conditions worsened. Limited water supply complicated the effort, officials said. A Topsfield ladder truck and multiple hand lines were used to contain the fire.
Two other adults were evaluated at the scene, and one was hospitalized for a dog bite. A dog died in the fire, and two cats remain missing. A horse barn on the property was not affected, but the house was declared a total loss.
Mutual aid was provided by Rowley, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Wenham, Essex and Topsfield fire departments, while Georgetown, Gloucester and Hamilton crews covered Ipswich stations. Ipswich Police, utilities crews, the Red Cross Disaster Team, and Rehab 5 also assisted.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Ipswich Fire Department, Ipswich Police Department and the State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit.
“Ipswich and Rowley firefighters saved lives today,” Ipswich Fire Chief Parisi said. “This was a high-risk event with a successful outcome, and I am grateful for the teamwork on display. I also want to commend the son who risked his life to save his father. He is a true hero.”
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