Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – A fire on Saturday, Sept. 15, totally destroyed a structure on the Parkhurst Siding Road owned by Rick Lafrance.
The fire was reported to the Presque Isle Fire Department at approximately 2:50 p.m. Upon arrival, firefighters found the fire was at an old potato house, located in what’s commonly known as the village on Parkhurst Siding Road.
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
A FIRE Saturday destroyed an old potato house on the Parkhurst Siding Road. Owner Rick Lafrance was in the process of cleaning out the building when the fire broke out. Here, all that was left on Sunday were the smoldering remains of the structure.
The owner was in the middle of cleaning out the building when the fire started. A neighbor reportedly saw smoke and notified the owner. Lafrance then placed the call for help.
The PIFD responded with 12 firefighters and three trucks. Mutual aid was provided by the Mapleton and Caribou fire departments. Caribou responded to the scene with a tanker, while Mapleton responded with a pumper truck and manned the station while the PIFD crew were addressing the fire.
Approximately 14,000 gallons of water were required to extinguish the blaze. Crews were able to leave the scene at around 4:40 p.m.
No one was injured as the result of the fire. Since the owner was in the process of cleaning out the building, all that remained in the structure were some lumber materials that were subsequently destroyed, along with the building itself.
Due to the extent of damage, the cause remains undetermined. The potato house was not insured.
