POLAND — A family of five in Poland was assisted by the American Red Cross Sunday after an afternoon blaze leveled the rear portion and garage of their two-story home.

Chief Mark Bosse of the Poland Fire Department said that the fire was called in about 12:55 p.m. at 589 North Raymond Road, which runs between Megquier Hill Road and Route 11. Bosse did not have the names of the individuals living in the house, but said that there were three adults and two children residing there. 

No one was home at the time the fire started, but Bosse reported that a dog and cat perished in the blaze. Bosse said estimates were not available Sunday night, but he expected that damages to the home would total more than $100,000.

Firefighters from Poland were assisted by six other departments in battling the stubborn blaze. More than 25 firefighters from Poland, New Gloucester, Minot, Oxford, Casco, Mechanic Falls and Otisfield were on scene until after 6 p.m. Bosse said it took more than one hour to get the fire at the wooden structure under control.

“It was a very difficult fire to fight with the wind and the cold temperatures,” Bosse said. “It makes it difficult for fire fighting. The crews did an outstanding job.”

Bosse said that the blaze is being investigated by the State Fire Marshal’s Office. He said that based on early indications, it appears that the fire started in the rear of the house near a wood stove being used as a heat source for the home.