WATERVILLE, Maine — Eight tenants were displaced from their units after a fire broke out at a two-apartment house on Wednesday afternoon.
The blaze broke out around 5 p.m. and firefighters had things under control by 6:40, Waterville fire Lt. Scott Holst said Thursday.
The fire started in the attic, according to Holst.
“They were having electrical issues for a while in the building,” said Holst.
A female tenant in the second-story unit had gone to the attic to investigate when her power went out, Holst said, and she subsequently discovered the flames. All the tenants in the building managed to get out safely.
The Red Cross placed the displaced tenants in hotels for the night.
The building, which is owned by Edward Judrak, suffered smoke and water damage, Holst said, and it’s unclear at this point whether it can be salvaged. Holst said the building owner and the tenants do not have insurance.
The late-afternoon humidity forced crews to shift firefighters in and out of the building.
“We had to rotate crews around quite a bit,” said Holst. “We had a group of citizens that helped and assisted us with getting firefighters hydration with water and stuff.”
The State Fire Marshal’s office is investigating a cause, but Holst doesn’t believe it to be suspicious. Approximately 30 firefighters from Waterville and Winslow responded to the scene.
The owner had no insurance? Shows ya what he thought of the place. A firetrap with old knob and tube wiring. If he has any more buildings, they should be inspected by the authorities.
There’s nothing wrong with Knob and tube wiring. It’s one of the safest wiring systems ever developed. The problems arise when people improperly tie in more modern wiring like Romex, damage the knob and tube and don’t repair, and dump insulation on it pushing the conductors together. The problem, like most in this life is not the “thing” but the people.
Yes the people do have a problem being displaced.
Of course it was, but with the passage of 80 odd years, cracked insulators, and the inevitable homemade wiring and remodels, it certainly isn’t any more. There isn’t a house out there that’s original and undisturbed. Many areas won’t let an inspector pass work if the stuff is found.
That’s why I consider it unsafe.
So, other than in Waterville this occured where? Street? Section of town? Good reporting.
WABI news reported it to be on Spruce St.