LISBON, Maine — A garage was flattened and an attached home damaged after a fire erupted possibly from the smoldering debris of an earlier blaze Wednesday on Frost Hill Avenue.
Around 1:30 p.m., firefighters responded to a report of a garage fire at a home at 72 Frost Hill Ave.
Upon arrival, homeowner Christina Siragusa, her dog and all occupants were outside the house, Lisbon Fire Chief Sean Galipeau said.
He called a second alarm because of the time of day in order to ensure enough manpower. Durham, Topsham and Lewiston fire departments responded to the call; Sabattus and Bowdoin departments provided station coverage in Lisbon.
Galipeau said the homeowner stated she’d had a kitchen fire an hour or two before the garage fire, had put the fire out and disposed of burned debris in the garage.
Galipeau estimated the damage at $40,000 to $50,000.
“We made a good stand,” Galipeau said. “We got lines in from the unburned side and actually were able to hold it at the garage. The kitchen and the living room took a beating because up in that top loft area” the fire began to spread.
But firefighters stopped the fire there, “so it’s a good stop,” Galipeau said.
The homeowner has insurance, Galipeau said.
Luckily the fire was knocked down when it was: Galipeau said firefighters lost water service because a water main broke down the street. Firefighters then used water from a tanker and set up a dump tank.
“If that would have happened during the heavy involvement, this may have been a totally different story,” Galipeau added.
Two vehicles on the property were damaged. Siragusa declined comment Wednesday.
Never put burned debris or ashes of any kind in any structure….totally preventable mishap if this, as it seems, was caused by the debris….Crazy…..