Staff Writer
Bad weather has made it difficult in recent weeks for area firefighters as they responded to a number of calls ranging from Portage to Fort Fairfield, Mars Hill to Perham. One of the most recent fires occurred in Easton on Sunday, Dec. 21, at the Main St. home of Bernard Hussey, who recently retired after 21 years of service to the town of Easton, was reportedly alerted to the fire at his two-story home by a neighbor.
It took firefighters from five communities more than eight hours to battle the blaze at the 100-year old structure. In addition to Easton firefighters, crews from Presque Isle, Fort Fairfield, Mars Hill and Limestone responded to assist. Over 40 firefighters were on the scene at one point.
Hussey reportedly told authorities that his vehicle had acted up as he returned from church that morning. He pulled the vehicle into the garage, which was attached to the house. When he was told of the fire, Hussey checked the garage and found the car on fire. The flames quickly spread to the home. Hussey, who lives alone, was able to escape without injury. Firefighters reportedly aided Hussey in retrieving some cherished possessions, but the home is considered a total loss, as is the car. Crews were successful in keeping flames from spreading to nearby homes.
Fire Chief Kim White indicated the State Fire Marshal’s Office was not notified since the cause of the fire was deemed accidental. It’s believed to have started in the car’s engine.
No one was injured as the result of the blaze, but firefighters were hampered by extreme cold temperatures that caused lines to freeze up, making their work difficult at times.
Hussey, who is in his 80s, was able to stay with friends following the incident. A fund-raiser may be held at a later date for the elderly gentleman.
A fire Monday, Dec. 22, at the Silver St. home of Melvin Corey took crews from Mars Hill and Bridgewater about three hours to extinguish. The house, valued for tax purposes at $24,300, was reportedly heavily damaged by fire and water but was saved. Crown Ambulance also responded to the scene. No injuries were reported. Nobody was home when the fire started and the cause remains under investigation.
Firefighters from Portage and Ashland responded to a shed fire at the Raymond Chasse residence on West Cottage Road in Portage on Monday, Dec. 22. The shed and a snow sled stored inside were lost but the house was not affected.
Firefighters have been busy in other communities lately as well. The Fort Fairfield Fire Department responded to a structure fire on Monday, Dec. 15, on Cogswell St. No information was available as to the owner of the property or the extent of damage. Washburn firefighters were called to a barn fire on Tangle Ridge in Perham recently. The barn was reportedly destroyed as a result of the blaze.
With winter upon us, so too is fire season, as people use various methods to stay warm. Fire department officials urge citizens to use caution when heating their homes this winter and encourage the cleaning of chimneys and encourage the use of smoke and fire detectors. Combustible materials should be stored properly. Portable heaters should not be left unattended and should be used according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. And with the holidays, decorations and lights can also create problems. Officials offer some safety suggestions: toss old, worn or frayed light cords; don’t keep trees lit overnight; make sure evergreen Christmas trees are watered regularly to help prevent them from drying out; don’t leave lit candles unattended; and keep gifts away from heat sources to prevent wrapping paper from catching fire.
