Portsmouth Firefighters Battle Blaze in Frigid Temperatures

PORTSMOUTH, RI — Portsmouth firefighters battled flames and the elements at a house fire Tuesday morning.

The fire broke out at the Summit Road home around 7:30 a.m. Photos taken at the scene show smoke pouring out of the house, and large flames were visible when crews arrived, firefighters said.

Extremely cold temperatures and gusty winds made fighting the fire difficult, the department said, with radios, face masks and hose lines frequently freezing over.

Several other departments were called in to assist, including Tiverton, Newport, Middletown, Bristol, the fire crew from the Newport Navy Station and others.