By Kerri Pepoy,Staff Writer

OXFORD – A downed power line sparked a fire Tuesday morning that destroyed four vehicles belonging to employees of Burlington Homes on Route 26.

There were no injuries. The vehicles were parked in the company’s parking lot, and no one was in them.

Firefighters from Oxford and Norway doused the blaze after workers from Central Maine Power Co. arrived and shut off power.

Lt. Steven Cordwell of the Oxford Fire Department said it was not known how the power line came down. A CMP worker at the scene referred questions to the company’s headquarters in Augusta.

Gail Rice, CMP spokeswoman, said the company is investigating the cause of the accident. She said about 7,200 customers were without power when workers shut off service. Most of those customers had power restored about 25 minutes later, although 160 customers in the immediate area of the accident were without power for about another hour.

“It appears (the power line) broke off the pole and draped onto the ground and eventually over one or two of the cars,” Cordwell said. He said radiant heat and to a lesser extent wind shift caused the fire to spread.

Employees said the fire started shortly after their routine morning break, when many of them were standing outside.

“I was sitting inside counting some money when the lights dimmed and I heard sizzling noises,” said employee Lionel Noble of Oxford. “I walked outside and saw an electrical line on the ground.”

Some employees reported hearing loud popping sounds.

Lauren Roy, whose 1998 Chrysler Concord was destroyed, said employees were ordered to evacuate the building.

Roy lives in Harrison and has been working for Burlington Homes for about one year. She leaned against her husband, Ron Roy, who came to the scene from his job at Oxford County Regional Airport.

“About half our power went out, then my wife called and I thought something was wrong with her,” he said. “The car can be replaced.”

“I’ll just find a ride for a while,” Lauren said, adding that she lost a jacket and pictures with sentimental value in the car.

Others whose vehicles were destroyed were identified as Charlie Hopkins of Waterford, Scott Groves of Locke Mills and an employee from Stoneham. Production manager Glenn Hodgdon of Oxford said Tuesday night he could not recall the full name of the Stoneham employee.

Martina Dabo, administrative assistant at the airport, said only the office building on the airport’s property lost power. “The airport was totally functional,” she said.

Frank Sweetser, general manager of Burlington Homes, said he called 911 and issued the evacuation order via the company’s intercom system after seeing the downed power line.

“We started losing power. I walked outside and saw smoldering where the wire hit the ground. It started lighting up the tires,” he said.