MILLERS FALLS — One person remained unaccounted for after a second-alarm fire destroyed a two-story residence at 20 Bridge St. on Tuesday night, according to the Department of Fire Services.

The call came in at 4:44 p.m., according to Montague Police Officer James Ruddock. Turners Falls Fire Department responded and struck a second alarm based on preliminary reports of occupants trapped inside, according to Jake Wark, spokesperson for the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services, who issued a statement on behalf of Fire Chief Todd Brunelle.

“First responding crews observed heavy fire conditions on arrival at the scene,” Wark wrote. “They immediately began an aggressive attack on the fire, which was contained to the building of origin but caused catastrophic damage and structural collapse.”

Other responding fire departments included Greenfield, Erving, Orange, Northfield, Montague Center, Bernardston, South Deerfield and Gill. The Deerfield Fire District provided station coverage in Greenfield.

Some occupants were reported to have safely escaped the building, according to an updated report at the scene, Wark said. As of 9 p.m., around when Wark issued his statement, one adult remained unaccounted for.

Three of the building’s occupants, two children and an adult woman, were observed distraught following their escape. The affected family declined to comment.

James Hawkins, a Bernardston resident and former Gill firefighter, said he was driving by the building when he noticed the blaze. He said he got out of his vehicle and kicked in the doors of the residence before saving two children trapped inside.

Joining Hawkins was Lee Laster, a retired Montague police officer and neighbor, who said he was putting up shelves in his home when he “heard some screaming” outside. At first he thought it was just some people making some noise in the street, but upon looking out another window he noticed something was wrong.

Laster said he and Hawkins broke into the home and began helping the inhabitants escape. He recalled he was told there was another person in a different room, but upon breaking through the door, he said the conditions were so dangerous that he couldn’t proceed.

“I got on my hands and knees and started crawling in,” Laster recounted by phone at 11:30 Tuesday night. “It was so thick and black and I couldn’t see anything.”

While he said he didn’t know the family that well, Laster said he talked to them in the past “when I’m out cutting the grass.”

“It’s just tragic, really tragic,” Laster said.

Having just retired from the Montague Police Department last year, Laster said it was his emergency training that kicked into gear.

“I did everything I could,” Laster said. “I didn’t even think twice about it; I wasn’t trying to be a hero.”

All residents of the home have been displaced, Wark reported. They are being assisted with shelter and other services. The Red Cross was also called in for service.

The building was thoroughly charred on the front side. Flames were visible through windows and holes in the roof that widened as fire hoses stripped off shingles. A portion of the collapsed interior could be seen through the front door and windows. A car next to the residence remained parked with fallen debris visible on its roof.

“It was the fastest fire I’ve ever seen,” Laster recounted. “That house went up so fast.”

The origin and cause of the fire are being investigated by the Turners Falls Fire Department, Montague Police, and State Police assigned to the State Fire Marshal’s Office and Northwestern District Attorney’s Office.

“My whole job was to help people, it’s just who I am. … I don’t regret anything I did, I am shook up about it,” Laster said. “I’ll pray for the family.”

Reach Julian Mendoza at 413-930-4231 or jmendoza@recorder.com. Chris Larabee contributed reporting.

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