OXFORD — Members of a family, including two preschool children, a young couple and a teenager, escaped their burning home at the Mechanic Falls line this morning.

There were no injuries, but Sally Courtney’s family lost several pets.

Firefighters from Oxford, Poland, Paris, Otisfield, Norway and Mechanic Falls responded to the fire, which destroyed the home on Burns Road.

Sunshine Courtney, 16, was in the den when flames in the ceiling woke her up.

“I was sleeping on the couch in the den when I saw the fire,” said Sunshine, who is the daughter of homeowner Sally Courtney.

Sally Courtney rushed to return home from an errand in Lewiston. By the time she arrived, the house was in flames. A column of smoke could be seen from the entrance to Burns Road, about 500 feet from the home.

Two children, 2 years and 3 months old, Sally’s daughters and son-in-law escaped without injury.

Several dogs.were removed safely from the home,  A puppy and nine kittens could not be accounted for and were believed to have perished in the fire.

Firefighters blocked off Robinson Hill Road to fill portable water tanks to extinguish the blaze, which burned for hours.


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.

filed under: