WHITEFIELD, Maine — The fire at 452 Mills Road in Whitefield that required the response of seven area fire departments on Tuesday was caused by a juvenile burning a dog leash, the state fire marshal’s office determined.
Sgt. Ken Grimes of the fire marshal’s office said that the cause of the fire was ruled to be a human element and a juvenile in the home was burning rope from a dog leash. The rope was not fully extinguished when the juvenile left the room, he said, and items in the room caught fire, which contributed to the fire’s growth.
“I don’t think he was intentionally trying to destroy the home,” Grimes said.
The house, owned by Ted Rideout, was fully engulfed in flames by the time Whitefield firefighters arrived at the scene, about 10 minutes after they were notified, Whitefield Fire Chief Scott Higgins said. Alna, Jefferson, Windsor, Somerville, Chelsea, and Pittston fire departments also battled the blaze.
The Whitefield Fire Department was called to the scene about 4:05 p.m., in the middle of the Nor’easter that dropped an estimated 15 to 30 inches of snow on Lincoln County.
Eleven individuals lived in the house, Grimes said. Ten were home at the time of the fire.
All individuals were safely evacuated from the house in the early stages of the fire, Lincoln County Emergency Management Agency director Tod Hartung said.
The Red Cross was notified and is expected to provide emergency housing and other relief for the victims, he added.
One individual suffered minor burns to the hands but refused medical treatment, Higgins said.
Three dogs and two cats perished inside the building, Grimes said.
Firefighters battled the blaze until about midnight. The structure collapsed in on itself and continued to smolder throughout the night, Higgins said.
The Whitefield Fire Department returned Wednesday morning awaiting an excavator to tear down what remained of the building.
A nearby house and camper were spared from any damage, Higgins said.
“Mutual aid is such a valuable resource for these rural communities,” Higgins said. “Everyone steps up to the plate when the call goes out. We couldn’t do it without them.”
A gofundme account was created Tuesday evening, reportedly by a niece of one of the victims.