NEW GLOUCESTER, Maine — Firefighters on Monday afternoon found themselves struggling to get to a burning home because of slick road conditions resulting from a snowstorm that is expected to linger until Tuesday.
The fire at 36 Moose Ridge Road, a private road off of Snow Hill Road, was reported shortly before 3 p.m., New Gloucester Fire and Rescue reported in a post on its Facebook page.
Fire trucks had a difficult time getting to the location because of a steep hill that was covered with the fresh snow.
“Both of New Gloucester’s engines made multiple attempts to make way up the steep drive,” the post read.
“The first engine on scene found heavy fire coming from the mobile home’s windows,” New Gloucester emergency personnel said.
They said that an engine from a nearby community then got stuck across the driveway, prohibiting any other fire trucks from gaining access to the home.
Despite that, crews had the fire extinguished within 10 minutes of arrival. Water was pumped 800 feet up the hill from Snow Hill Road, and about 3,000 gallons of water were needed to extinguish the blaze.
New Gloucester was assisted by Gray, Poland, Pownal, and Raymond fire departments.
No one was injured, but several animals inside the home when the fire occurred were found dead.
While the damage was worst in the kitchen, the cause of the fire is still under investigation.