STOCKTON SPRINGS, Maine — Seven people — including a baby — escaped without injury a fire early Thursday morning that demolished an old farmhouse on Main Street.
“It’s a total loss,” Assistant Chief Vern Thompson of the Stockton Springs Volunteer Fire Department said.
Officials think the blaze started in the attic, and may have been caused by a fire in the chimney. Thompson said it was called in to dispatchers at 6:45 a.m., and that by the time the firefighters arrived “she was pouring smoke out.”
“It was pretty well going by the time we got there,” he said.
Thompson said it took a crew of between 25 and 30 people more than four hours to extinguish the fire. The snowy, windy weather didn’t help, he said. Fire departments from Prospect and Searsport assisted at the scene.
He said the home is owned by Gene Ellis, and a baby in the residence actually woke the family up. The people and dogs made it safely outside, but a cat might have perished in the blaze, he said.
Thompson said he thought the home was insured. The Red Cross is helping the family with a place to stay.
Thank God they all made it out. Dont know if they had smoke detectors or not but if not its a good thing that baby started to cry. I hope everyone checks their own detectors to make sure they are functioning probably. Alot of fires lately
So a baby Crying vs working smoke detectors! Lucky to be alive. Come on people install smoke detectors, especially if you heat with wood. Why wouldn’t you!
smoke detectors didnt work,,be a little more considerate of others. this was my sisters house, they worked when checked last, so know what youre talking about before running your mouth
Amen!
The fire was in the attic, smoke, heat and fire go to the easiest way out and up.
My bet is there was little smoke in the lower house.
Thank you to God that everyone made it out alive.
the problem with relying on smoke detectors when a fire starts in an attic is that the smoke rises. unless you have smoke detectors in your attic as well (and all likelihood is that you wouldn’t here them up there) by the time the smoke detectors go off where the people actually are, it could be too late. Also why it is always important to have your chimney checked and cleaned to prevent these types of fires from occurring. Thank the Lord that everyone got out safely, it could’ve been much worse.
This was my sister in laws family’s home. It was the 3rd oldest structure in town. Old buildings burn quick. Detectors didn’t even work fast enough. Everyone is very lucky, but they lost everything. We are collecting donations for them if anyone can help contact me through Facebook or email wendabbad@Yahoo.com.
How do i find you on fb?
search by my email address
Vern and the boys to the rescue again. Bravo guys!
The fire department did a great job! There really wasn’t much that could have been done. The fire spread SO fast! They were able to save the garage apartment that my sister and her husband lived in. That’s where the cats hid.
Glad they were able to get out safely :) Also glad the family doesn’t use the “Cry it out” method with the baby cries at night. So happy to read a happyish ending to a fire story.
This was my sister and her families home…just want to say thank-you to everyone for all their supposrt…so devistating after christmas…..
Ihuntandfish2 person,whatever…yeah, that was my house and my baby and right now your ignorance is really stupid, i would LOVE for your butt to be with out a home and feel the helplessness i feel that i can’t and don’t have anything for my son. We did have smoke detectors but they didn’t go off, so seriously, please stfu.