HOULTON, Maine — A sergeant with the state fire marshal’s office said Thursday that investigators likely will never know what caused a fire that flattened a business at the Houlton Industrial Park on Wednesday evening.
Sgt. Tim York said Thursday that investigators spent several hours at the scene but were unable to determine where the fire originated or what caused it.
Houlton Fire Department officials said the fire broke out at about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Jackett Enterprises, which is located at 77 Aviation Drive in the industrial park near Houlton International Airport.
Thick black smoke quickly billowed out into the community, and some local residents said it was visible as far away as Littleton and across the border in Grafton, New Brunswick.
Firefighters had knocked down the fire by 8:30 p.m. and were extinguishing hot spots until 9:30 p.m.
The building and some equipment inside was destroyed.
Jackett Enterprises, which is owned by Blaine Jackett, offers line painting, striping, sweeping and parking lot maintenance among other services. It has been in operation since 1993, according to its website.
Jackett could not be reached for comment Thursday.
Lauren Asselin, tax collector for the town, said Thursday that the building had been assessed at $6,900 for tax purposes. She said it was built in 1941, according to records, and was listed in “poor condition” because it had no heating or cooling systems.
Members of the U.S. Border Patrol and Houlton Police Department assisted at the scene. No injuries were reported.