FARMINGTON – Walter Simpson, a 90-year-old man whose home was destroyed by fire Monday, plans to live with his daughter and her family in New Hampshire at least for the winter.
On Tuesday, Simpson’s daughter, Evelyn Lord, said her father is doing fine.
“He’s quite a guy; he’s very strong,” Lord said.
Simpson has been staying with his nephew, Jerry Simpson and his wife, Jean, in Farmington and will take care of a few business errands before driving to Exeter, N.H., Lord said.
His daughter said Simpson will stay with her, her husband and 11-year-old son in an in-law apartment attached to their home.
Fire officials believe the fire started on a rear enclosed porch of Simpson’s home at 250 Temple Road in West Farmington, said Farmington Deputy Fire Chief Tim Hardy on Tuesday.
The fire was reported at 7:50 a.m. When Hardy arrived at the 1-story home, flames were coming from the rear porch, he said.
Simpson had a fire going in the wood stove on the porch, he said, and “we surmise” that the fire started where the stovepipe went through the ceiling and porch roof area.
The fire got into the house and burned its way through the kitchen and into an open upstairs attic, Hardy said.
Firefighters from Farmington and Temple responded to fight the fire and were able to get into the home to knock the fire down, he said.
A rapid intervention team was called out from Jay Fire Rescue to stand by as a backup team of firefighters in case it was needed, Hardy said.
The home was totaled from fire, heat and smoke damage.
When Simpson discovered the fire, Hardy said, it had already burned through the telephone lines so Simpson walked across the street to a neighbor who reported the fire.
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