Fire broke out early Wednesday morning in a small cottage behind the 3 Hines Point house of James and Lynn Tuck, where the Tuck’s daughter Robin and granddaughter Elke live.
Tisbury Fire Chief John Schilling said that, in the aftermath of the blaze, the structure appeared to be sound, but much of the contents appeared destroyed.
Speaking to The Times at the fire scene, Chief Schilling said it was too early to say what caused the fire and that it is under investigation.
A cat died in the fire, but there were no injuries to the residents or firefighters, the chief said.
The house and cottage are located at the end of a narrow tree-lined way that allowed access for one fire truck.
The entire Tisbury department responded to the 7 am call, along with EMS members and police. Oak Bluffs Fire Department units provided backup at the Tisbury fire station.
In a telephone conversation Wednesday, Lynn Tuck said she was very grateful to firefighters for their quick response and their efforts to minimize damage to the building and its contents even as they fought to keep the blaze from spreading. “I’m amazed how much they saved,” she said.
Mrs. Tuck said the family is still assessing the extent of the damage.
It was the second time in six days the Tisbury Fire Department responded to an early morning fire.
A fire that began in the predawn darkness Friday destroyed a house at 59 Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road. One man was home at the time, but he was not injured.
