One blaze caused by ‘a human element’ says fire marshal
By Sarah Berthiaume
Staff Writer
LINNEUS — In the span of two days last week, fire destroyed two homes in Linneus.
Linneus Fire Chief Bruce Williams said firefighters responded to a structure fire on the Hodgdon Mills Road the night of April 9 and a second fire on Desrosier Lane, off the New Limerick Road, April 10. Both fires involved mobile homes and both structures were essentially destroyed by the fire.
The first fire, reported just after 9:15 p.m. last Tuesday, involved a Hodgdon Mills Road home owned by Gary Boyce.
“When we got there it was engulfed,” explained Williams. “There is part of the structure still standing, but it’s a total loss as far as the items stored inside and unfortunately, he had no insurance.”
Williams said the home wasn’t being lived in at the time and the electricity had been disconnected.
The fire is being considered suspicious. Tim Lowell, an investigator with the state fire marshal’s office, said it has been determined that “the fire was caused by a human element.” Their investigation is still under way; as of last week, no arrests have been made.
Linneus firefighters worked the Hodgdon Mills Road home for over two hours. Two other structures nearby were not damaged in the fire, said Williams.
The following day, a second fire was reported around 4:30 p.m.
This trailer, owned by Hope Johnson, was also mostly engulfed when firefighters received the call.
“The trailer was in the process of being fixed up and they were getting ready to move it this spring,” explained Williams. “An electric heater had been left on to keep it from freezing and apparently it malfunctioned or was just too close to something else.”
This fire, which Williams said is not considered suspicious, also resulted in a total loss of the home and its contents. Johnson did have insurance on the home, he said.
Linneus firefighters, with mutual aid from Hodgdon Fire Department, worked at the scene for two and a half hours.
No injuries were reported as a result of either blaze.
