BETHEL – Strong winds contributed to the spread of an early morning fire on Monday that destroyed much of a Barker Road residence.

Fire Chief Mike Jodrey said a wood boiler in the attached garage at 215 Barker Road ignited surrounding material.

Jodrey said the initial call shortly before 2 a.m. reported that the garage and an ell were fully engulfed.

“Before we even left the station they called back and said it was into the house,” Jodrey said. “When we got there it was already through the roof.”

Jodrey said Eric Paul, the building’s owner, escaped with a female companion. Neither person was injured, and no pets were in the house.

Jodrey said winds blowing off the Androscoggin River spread the fire toward the house, and a trailer filled with hardwood lumber in the garage provided fuel for the blaze.

Firefighters were able to knock down the flames within an hour, but spent a few more hours extinguishing hot spots.

Firefighters from Bethel, Newry, Gilead and Greenwood responded to the scene, and were able to save a three-story cylindrical tower that was part of the building. Jodrey said Paul was offered assistance but declined.