ASHLAND, Maine — An early morning fire in Ashland would have claimed the lives of two residents if it weren’t for the quick and brave action of passersby, according to the local fire chief.
Nancy and Edwin Charette were asleep in their home at 1298 Frenchville Road when Roderick Guerrette and his girlfriend Maryann Mink and their children Adam Guerrette and Mariah Mink drove by on their way back from Portage at about 12:15 a.m. Friday.
When the family noticed the house was on fire, Guerrette quickly pulled over.
“We pounded on their door, but they wouldn’t come out, so my boyfriend and his son kicked the door in and woke them up and got them out of the house as quick as possible,” Maryann Mink recalled Friday.
Ashland Fire Chief Don Bouley said Friday that if the good Samaritans hadn’t arrived when they did, “we probably would have two bodies to deal with this morning.”
After making sure the Charettes made it out of their home, Mink said, Roderick and Adam Guerette threw buckets of water one after the other at the flames in an attempt to put out the fire until firefighters arrived.
It took firefighters from the Ashland, Mapleton and Masardis fire departments three hours to battle the blaze, but they did manage to save the home, though it sustained significant damage, according to Bouley.
The American Red Cross has responded and is working with the Charettes to ensure they have food, a safe place to sleep and other essentials. The couple could not be be reached for comment Friday.
The fire is still under investigation.
