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Billerica fire destroys couple's home

BILLERICA, Mass. — Investigators are trying to figure out what caused a devastating fire in Billerica that destroyed nearly four decades worth of memories for one couple.

By the time Shirley and Jim Collerno made it back to their house Thursday morning, there was nothing they could do. Shirley cried out for her two cats left inside.

Shirley and Jim's daughter Tracy said her parents left to go to a doctor’s appointment Thursday morning. By the time they returned, the fire had gutted most of their home. Tracy said her parents lived on Georgiana Road for 35 years.

“It’s devastating. It’s awful. But my parents are out there, okay. That’s all that matters," Tracy said.

A Billerica town worker who first called in the fire. Mike Haines said he was driving through the neighborhood when he noticed all the smoke and flames. He said he actually kicked in the front door just in case there were people inside.

'W were yelling. We couldn’t enter the house [because] there was too much smoke coming out of the front of the house," said Haines.

The house was empty, except for the pets.

The family doesn’t know what could have started this fire and at this point, neither do investigators. The only thing they’ve said so far is that they believe the fire started in the back corner of the house