HOULTON, Maine — Improperly disposed of cigarettes were cited as the cause of a fire that destroyed a home on 46 River St. Friday.
According to Timothy Lowell of the Maine Fire Marshall’s Office, the blaze originated in the attached garage and was caused by careless disposal of smoking materials. The Fire Marshall’s Office was called to investigate because of the extensive damage to the home.
Houlton Fire Chief Milton Cone said his department was called to the residence of Tracy Anderson at 11 a.m. Friday when Anderson’s neighbor, Debbie Lunn, reported smoke coming from the garage area of the home. Lunn’s husband, Mark, notified the residents of the fire and helped them escape. Anderson and two other individuals were able to flee from the home unharmed. Two cats, however, perished in the fire.
Upon arrival, firefighters found the garage to be fully involved and were unable to gain access inside. The fire spread quickly to an attached mudroom and into the house, Cone said.
Firefighters spent three hours at the scene and were called back to the residence twice for flare-ups.
“Due to the construction of the home, there were huge voids that ran along both sides of the house,” Cone said. “The fire got into that area and worked its way up to the ceiling and throughout the house.”
A neighboring home received some minor exterior damage due to the heat, Cone said.
The building was assessed a value of $60,400 for tax purposes, according to the town of Houlton’s website. A 2007 Ford Focus located inside the garage was also destroyed. Cone said the property was insured.
Because the homeowner lost everything in the fire, a donation plan has been created to assist. The clothing items needed are women’s extra-large tops, size 16 pants and size 8.5 shoes; and men’s medium tops, 30×30 pants, 32×34 pants and size 9 and 12 shoes.
Clothing items or financial donations may be dropped off at her neighbor’s residences at 48 or 50 River St.
