Fires keep HFD busy

Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
FRIDAY FIRE — Houlton firefighter Mike Beals sprays water on an stack of wood and outdoor wood boiler at a Station Road residence  Friday afternoon in New Limerick.
By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — The Houlton Fire Department was busy Friday and Saturday with fires in New Limerick and Houlton.
    At 12:50 p.m. Friday, firefighters were called to the Station Road residence of Sally Callanan for a report of a structure fire. HFD responded with four engines — the pumper truck, ladder truck, pumper/tanker and tanker — and upon arrival discovered the structure was an outdoor “pole barn.”
    Houlton Fire Chief Milton Cone said an outdoor wood boiler, which was used to provide heat to the New Limerick residence and greenhouse located on the property, was believed to be the source of the fire. Exactly how the fire started though was not known.
    “Due to the debris that was around, the fire marshal was called in because we could not positively identify what caused the fire,” Cone said.
    The heating system was not operational after the fire, but Cone said Callanan has an alternative-heating source for her home. There were no plants in the greenhouse, he added.
    “Normally an outside wood boiler doesn’t cause any concerns,” Cone said. “However, in this case, with a pole barn structure built over it, that complicated things.”
    Firefighters spent some time trying to reach the fire in the pole barn since it had gotten in between the metal roof of the pole barn. Several cords of wood were also stacked around the wood boiler, which helped flame the fire, he added.
    Firefighters spent about one hour on scene. Substantial damage was done to the pole barn and a nearby garage/workshop received exterior heat damage.
    On Saturday afternoon, around 3:30 p.m., the department responded to a report of a structure fire at the 30 Charles St. home of Juanita Wiggins. According to Cone, Wiggins was on the first floor of her two-story residence working on her computer when she smelled something out of the ordinary.
    “She got up, checked the washer and dryer, including the lint trap in the dryer and went outside to check the vent as well,” Cone said. “She didn’t find any problems, so she went back to work on her computer. A short time later, she walked into the kitchen and found flames rolling out from behind the washer and dryer.”
    Wiggins exited the building with her dog and went to a neighbor’s house to call 9-1-1, the chief said.
    Upon arrival, firefighters found flames billowing out the back of the house.
    “The fire was basically contained to the kitchen, but there was extensive damage to the property due to smoke and heat,” Cone said. “In fact, the temperatures were so high on the second floor that some plastic bamboo curtains melted.”
    Nine of Wiggins’ 12 cats perished in the fire, the chief said. The building was insured. Power to the property was shut off while firefighters fought the blaze. Wiggins was unable to stay in the home.
    “In both of these fires, we were very fortunate to have a quick response from firefighters,” Cone said. “We were able to aggressively knock down the fire in both cases. Another 10 or 15 minutes in either case may have resulted in an entirely different situation.”