PORTSMOUTH — As David Adams watched firefighters battle a blaze in his historic South End home Tuesday morning, the only thing on his mind was his 17-year-old cat, Tiki Bear.

Fire broke out in the home at 210 Gates St. and smoke billowed from the second story as crews worked to contain the flames and prevent them from spreading to nearby homes.

Neighbors had already tried to get into the home to locate the beloved pet but were pushed back by flames and smoke.

About 30 minutes into the battle, a firefighter emerged carrying an unconscious Tiki Bear. Owner Dave Adams ran his hands through his own hair as firefighters applied an animal-specific oxygen mask to the cat. Soon after, Tiki Bear began breathing on her own and was transported by police to a local veterinary hospital.

As Adams looked at the shattered windows of his home, he said the signs of life in his cat were a small sign of the ability to overcome the tragedy that had suddenly befallen him.

Dave and Deborah Adams moved into their house 25 years ago, he said. It was built in 1742 and was ready to be torn down. But the historic carpenter and former member of the city's Historic District Commission set about restoring it to its original character.

“It's a different kind of place. Most houses have moved on in time,” he said.

He said it may not be the oldest house, but it was one of the earliest-looking houses around.

“It hurts. I've got a lot of work in that house,” Adams said.

But, he said, he will just “do it again”

Neighbor Michael Kost said visitors would often stop to photograph the wood-shingled, three-story house and the vines and gardens that surround it.

Kost lives diagonally across from the home on Mechanic Street with his dog and was one of two neighbors to run into the house to try and find Tiki Bear when they spotted smoke billowing from the second story.

Inside the home, he was pushed back by smoke and saw flames on the floor and climbing the wall near a first-floor fireplace.

Portsmouth Fire Chief Christopher LeClaire said the fire began on the first floor and spread to the second floor, but he said the cause is still under investigation.

LeClaire said the call came into the station at 11:32 a.m. and crews were on scene by 11:33 a.m.

Fighting a fire in such an old house and in such a crowded neighborhood posed specific challenges, he said.

“It's a very old house. There is a lot of historic value in this Strawbery Banke/South End area that presents many challenges, especially with a building like this to keep it (the fire) to the building of origin,” LeClaire said.

LeClaire said a quick response time, the right number of crews and an aggressive internal attack helped keep the fire from spreading to nearby homes, which are packed tightly together in the waterfront neighborhood.

Adams said he thinks it is incredible his neighbors did so much to try and help, from running in to try and find his cat, to offering him a place to stay for the time being.

“What can you say? Everybody in the world has a few good neighbors. I have many,” Adams said.

The extent of the damage to the interior of the home and whether it can be saved was still unknown Tuesday afternoon.

gmacalaster@newstote.com