HOULTON, Maine — An 1880 farmhouse was damaged by a massive fire Saturday afternoon, but firefighters were able to save the attached home.
Houlton Fire Chief Milton Cone said Monday morning that thanks to mutual aid efforts from Hodgdon, Linneus and Littleton, Houlton firefighters were able to salvage much of Marion Donovan’s farmhouse at 546 Ludlow Road.
After being called out to the Donovan residence at 4:27 p.m. Saturday, arriving firefighters found a large barn attached to the home engulfed in flames.
“As I was approaching and saw the barn was totally involved, we put the call out for mutual aid for extra tankers,” Cone said. “Thanks to those extra tankers we were able to shuttle water from the hydrant near Hannaford to the scene, so we were never without water.”
Officers with the Houlton Police Department closed a portion of the Ludlow Road to ensure tanker trucks were able to shuttle water to the scene. The road was re-opened around 8 p.m.
Jim Donovan, the owner’s son who lives at the residence, was able to make it out of the home safely, Cone said.
Because the barn was attached to the home through an addition, fire spread to the rear of the Donovan home. A porch, pantry, kitchen and an upstairs bedroom all received extensive damage.
“Our efforts were on saving the home,” Cone said. “However, there is some heat and smoke damage in other parts of the home.”
About 19 firefighters from Houlton, as well as several volunteers from the other three departments that responded for mutual aid, spent nearly four hours bringing the blaze under control. A crew returned to the scene Sunday morning for a small flare up.
Chief Cone said the Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office was not called to investigate because the damage was so extensive. Cone said the fire is believed to have started in the barn. At the time the fire was noticed, a heavy storm passed through the area, but Cone said he did not believe a lightning strike caused it.
“We were not able to identify the ignition source,” Cone said. “I didn’t see any indication of a lightning strike, such as materials scattered from an explosion, but yet we can’t rule out lightning as a cause. It also could have been electrical.”
A cat was believed to have perished in the barn fire. There were no other animals inside the barn. Cone said the property was insured.
