BRUNSWICK, Maine — A two-alarm fire Thursday night destroyed a two-story home on the tip of Mere Point.
Approximately 80 firefighters from nine communities fought the fire at 41 West Marginal Way, a single-lane dirt road at the end of a web of other small roads overlooking Maquoit Bay. The home’s last assessed value was $402,300, according to the Brunswick assessor’s office.
Brunswick Fire Chief Ken Brillant said this morning that he estimates the total loss to be close to $1 million.
The Brunswick Fire Department responded to a report of a structure fire at 7:15 p.m. The first crews arrived 10 minutes later to find a three-car garage ablaze and the fire already reaching the main home, Brillant said at the scene Thursday night.
No one was home at the time of the fire, but homeowners Marge and Robert Healing arrived as firefighters continued to knock back flames near 9 p.m.
“When we got here, the garage was fully involved and starting to collapse, and the fire was already in the main house,” Brillant said. “The propane tanks were blowing off … and at the neighbors’ home, too.”
The adjacent home, 37 West Marginal Way, owned by Doug and Nicole Niven, suffered “secondary” damage, Brillant said. On the other side of the now-destroyed structure, firefighters held the blaze from spreading to another home about 15 feet farther down the peninsula.
Brillant said the narrow, dirt roads were far from the only obstacles to dousing the fire.
“We had some serious water issues,” he said.
Crews drew water from a nearby fire pond and then set up hoses to draw from the Mere Point Boat Launch.
Doing so used up precious manpower, he said, which left front-line firefighters shorthanded.
The Healing home was a total loss, Brillant said.
A Brunswick Police Department detective was on the scene investigating, and the Maine State Fire Marshal’s office was en route Thursday night to look into the cause, due to the “large dollar loss, with an unknown cause,” according to Brillant.
Brillant reported the fire under control at approximately 9:30 p.m. — two hours after the first crews arrived on scene.
But he expected firefighters to remain on the scene for several hours more to douse the remaining flames and embers.
“We’re going to be here for awhile,” he said.
400 grand home and no fire suppression system?
The next time someone wants to cut the fire department’s budget even further in your town-show the town selectmen or city officials this picture and then read the story to them.
…another fire at the end of a road, like the 3 I posted about earlier this week in Hampden/Bangor. Huh. Hard to get water, remote area. De ja vou anyone?
We will have all these benefit suppers for the people who are insured . When I brothers house burn without insurance He could not even get help with the mess. the town charged to haul stuff to the dump.
No insurance? Why would anyone not insure their home, probably their most valuable asset? Homewoners insurance is not that expensive.
He had a trailor . He worked hard for a living but only made $8 per hour with a wife and teenage kids. By point is many people make out very well with insurance . A ten year old riding lawn mower get replaced with a new one etc. The whole town hold benefit suppers . When his place burn down do to Arson (might have been the kid who work for fire department who got caught a few years latter) The neighbors called code enforcement about the mess. The town charged to take the mess. I worked very hard to help him . It got done but took a month or 2. Why don’t people help the people who need it the most first.
Sorry to hear that Bob, had it been Washington County, you would have gotten the help and then some. (we only help those who help themselves not druggies). Sorry I could not have been there to help.
That was over 10 years ago since then I helped him build a house. In Washington county you guy know what it is like to struggle. Funny thing the ones who complained about the mess to code enforcement never offered to help . I guess a trailor near by would drive down property values. Anyways it all worked out in the long run. No thanks to all the towns people. I almost bought a piece of land near by to start a pig farm lol
You should!! The neighbors would probably love the pig farm!
As dry as it is they all did a great job containing the fire to a “small” area, that picture is unreal! Glad no one was hurt!
It started in the garage? Was there a jeep wrangler in there?
hard to get water? Wasn’t this on the water? Sorry for the loss. The building can be replaced, sucks about the possession and memories but at least no one was injured
Just because you can see it does not mean it is accessible. Maine DEP is responsible for that. The DEP does not give permits for fire suppression roads, which lead to the waters edge, to private landowners. They are afraid it might help someone.
Sure are alot of fires in Brunswick