FARMINGTON – Fire ripped through Quintin Smith’s home early Wednesday morning destroying everything in its path.

Smith, who only had his sleepwear on, escaped uninjured and was able to save his car.

He had no insurance on his belongings.

Farmington Fire Rescue Deputy Chief Tim Hardy said when he and Chief Terry Bell arrived at the house, everything was engulfed in flames. The fire was reported about 12:15 a.m., Hardy said.

The older-style trailer destroyed in the fire had been added on to and had an attached 20- by 60-foot shed.

Twenty-six Farmington firefighters along with tankers from Chesterville, Industry, New Sharon, Temple and Wilton responded to the blaze.

Hardy said because of the extent of destruction, the cause would go undetermined as well as the blaze’s origin.

Smith’s neighbor of about 30 years, Richard Paul, said he heard a noise close to midnight.

“I looked out the window and I didn’t see anything,” Paul said. “By quarter past 12, it was all ablaze.”

Another neighbor, Guy Stevens, who had heard an explosion, called in the fire.

Paul said he and his wife, Carolyn, didn’t dare go back to bed. Several of their outbuildings are located near Smith’s property.

“My God almighty, the flames were shooting 40 feet in the air,” he said.

Smith escaped in just his “skivvies,” Paul said.

Smith was in Rumford Wednesday afternoon to get a new license because his wallet had burned in the fire, Paul said.

“He needs everything,” Paul said of Smith. “He hasn’t got a thing in the world except his automobile.”

Debris still smoldered Wednesday afternoon. A pile of firewood sat charred in the yard.

Paul said Smith told him he had been charging a battery in his workshop and apparently it exploded. There were several gas cans in the shop, Paul said, that could have fueled the fire.

When Smith opened the back door of his living quarters to the workshop, Paul said, the flames came gushing out at Smith and he ran from the residence.

Firefighters were able to save a truck that was parked in the driveway close to the fire. A plastic light cover on the side of the truck melted from the heat.

Leaves on several trees were scorched.

Smith stayed the night in Paul’s workshop on a portable bed. Paul said he got the heat going for him.

He wouldn’t come up to the house, Paul said.

Paul said he has another workshop that could be moved to Smith’s place after the debris is cleared up.

Smith takes about a medium size shirt and medium pants, Paul said.

The American Red Cross has been called in to help.

Paul surveyed the damage and then looked at his own buildings that firefighters saved.

“I’ll tell you one thing,” Paul said, “I have the greatest respect in the world for the Farmington Fire Department, Terry Bell and all his crew. They saved my buildings.”

dperry@sunjournal.com

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