WELD — Firefighters prevented flames from spreading from a personal storage building/garage next to a building that houses a cabinet business at 80 Temple Road, acting fire Chief Hollis Tyler said Thursday.

The buildings on the property of Randall and Debra Vining were an estimated 15 to 20 feet apart, Tyler said.

The couple operates Vining’s Custom Cabinets and Fine Furniture, which is located off Center Hill Road. The couple lost their entire workshop to fire in 2001, according to the business’ website, and they rebuilt it.

Firefighters were called at 12:39 p.m. When they arrived, the storage building was fully engulfed in flames, Tyler said.

Firefighters fought not only the fire, but also struggled to stay on their feet as the area was very icy, he said.

More than 20 firefighters from Carthage, Dixfield, East Dixfield, Peru, Phillips, Weld and Wilton responded. A portable dump tank was set up to contain water shuttled to the site.

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Weld firefighters left the scene at about 6:30 p.m. and had to return at 7 p.m. when the fire rekindled. During the evening, firefighters struggled in the frigid temperatures with equipment freezing up, he said.

Firefighters worked to put the fire out until 10 p.m., Tyler said Wednesday night.

It was difficult to get to the fire because of a large pile of firewood behind the building that was also on fire, he said. There is an outdoor wood furnace also behind the building, he said.

The cause of the fire is unknown, he said.

“Everyone did a fabulous job,” Tyler said.

dperry@sunjournal.com


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