GREENBUSH, Maine — Quick work by firefighters saved most of a Lower Ridge Road resident’s belongings from a blaze that destroyed his mobile home early Thursday.
No injuries were reported, but an unidentified man was left homeless, officials said.
When firefighters arrived at about 1:30 a.m. at 91 Lower Ridge Road, about 20 minutes after the homeowner called 911, they found flames burning through the roof in the middle of the home, Fire Chief Donald Burr said.
The three firefighters who arrived first attacked the flames, and when more firefighters showed up, they went into the building, he said.
“Honestly, when I initially got there, I thought the whole building was going to burn down, but the interior guys got it,” Burr said. “For the most part, we held it to the room of origin.”
The ends of the building, which were bedrooms, were saved from water and fire damage, but they were still affected, the fire chief said.
The fire appeared to start in the kitchen and living room area in the middle of the home, Burr said. Firefighters did not know what started the blaze, but investigators from the state fire marshal’s office are looking into the incident, Burr said.
Burr expressed gratitude at the quick response from his firefighters, dispatchers and from the Bradley, Milford, Passadumkeag and University of Maine fire departments. Alton Fire Department also offered assistance but wasn’t needed, Burr said.
“I can’t tell you how thankful we are for the men and women who get out of bed in the middle of the night to go fight fires,” said Burr, whose volunteer department has 16 members.
The homeowner is staying with friends, Burr said.
The homeowner called in the fire, a Penobscot Regional Communications Center dispatcher said. Firefighters cleared the scene at about 3:20 a.m., and many of them went to work their full-time jobs a few hours later.