First responders were alerted around 10 a.m. to a possible structure fire at a home on the corner of Second Street and Daily Hill Road — kitty-corner to the Kennedy Fire Hall. A fire official confirmed the blaze to county dispatch and quickly called for more assistance.

Mutual aid departments included Falconer, Frewsburg, Gerry, Ellington, Sinclairville, Kiantone, Randolph, Busti, Cherry Creek, Fluvanna, Lakewood and Ellery Center. Chautauqua County EMS also responded.

Within minutes the property was fully engulfed by flames and began to threaten a neighboring property to the west. Several trees behind the home also were damaged due to large flames that consumed the structure.

Firefighters tried to douse the neighboring home to prevent further spread of the fire. However, due to its size, the blaze managed to fully spread to the second property and further threatened another nearby structure.

OBSERVER photos by Timothy Frudd A firefighter is pictured Wednesday morning in front of a fully engulfed home on Second Street in Kennedy. A massive fire destroyed at least two homes and drew firefighters from a dozen departments to the hamlet.

Efforts to battle the blaze were made more difficult due to temperatures that had already reached 80 degrees by 10:30 a.m. Rehabilitation stations with plenty of water were established to cool off first responders.

No injuries were reported by fire officials.

About an hour after the fire was first reported, the first home was largely reduced to debris.

The blaze was under investigation with the cause was not known late Wednesday.