By JON BAKER

LINCOLN — What started as an impromptu family cookout at the Blanchard homestead early Thursday evening soon became a structure fire, causing police to close a portion of Jenckes Hill Road and curious neighbors stating, “What the heck happened?”

“I had fired up the grill, went back inside to get the burgers ready and then I heard a swishing noise,” said Richard Blanchard, the homeowner at 161 Jenckes Hill Road, a quarter-mile from the new middle school. “My thought was that the hose connecting the grill and the propane tank had come loose. I don’t think it exploded, but I do think it was like a blow torch to the northeast corner of the house.
“I’m sure the roof is gone,” he added, seemingly in disbelief.
His statement proved correct, as Lime Rock Fire Chief Frank Sylvester claimed the white, single-level ranch home (which resembles a raised ranch) had suffered damages in excess of $100,000 — mostly to the kitchen and living-room areas, not to mention the roof.
The good news: Blanchard, his wife Elaine, daughter Suzanne and granddaughter Abby all escaped without injury. They stood in the next-door neighbor Hartleys’ driveway, about 35 yards from their kitchen side door, watching firefighters disable the conflagration.
“I’d say they’re all pretty lucky,” Sylvester said of the family. “(Lime Rock) Assistant Chief Arthur Jacques was the incident commander, and he got everyone together quickly and efficiently.”
The call came to the Lime Rock Fire District at 6:59 p.m., and Capt. Jonathan Wright and “teammates” Jeff Enos and Kyle Rodrigues in Engine 32 were the first on scene.
Lime Rock Engine 31 also responded, as well as Engine 4 from Lonsdale, Ladder 51 from Saylesville and a rescue squad unit from Albion. Wright added the fire took 40 minutes to control and approximately 55 to halt it completely.
After analyzing the scene, Sylvester walked behind the house, the left side blackened, and stated, “You see? These propane tanks are what causes fires. He was about to cook some burgers for the family, and the hose let go from the tank, causing the propane to drift to the grill, which was rather close to the kitchen windows (in the back of the home).
“You can see a pattern as to how the fire moved, and it tells you it was an accidental blaze,” he continued. “The grill was up near the home, and the shingles caught fire. They had particle board covering the ceiling, and a lot of insulation above the particle board. That’s what keeps a fire going.”