Mapleton family lose dog, home in fire
The residents of a house in Mapleton have lost their dog and home in a fire that local authorities believe was caused by a dryer.
The fire at 6 Turner Street started around noon Thursday and resulted in a total loss, said Mapleton Fire Chief Rich Wark.
A complete investigation was difficult, but it seemed that the fire started from a dryer, which was left running while no one was home, Wark said.
No one was injured at the home, owned by Joe Langley, who lived there with Danielle Clark and their daughter. Their dog who was at home died in the blaze, Wark said, adding that the home was not insured.
It took a team of 20 firefighters from Mapleton, Caribou, Presque Isle and Washburn until about 4:30 p.m. to extinguish the fire, Wark said.
“It was a pretty stubborn fire to get out,” he said, explaining that the metal roof on the home trapped the flames. The fire crews had to borrow the town of Mapleton’s backhoe to tear off the roof to fully extinguish the fire, Wark said.
A GoFundMe account has been started seeking donations to help the young family.
