PARIS — Ten people were left homeless Friday night when fire of undetermined origin gutted a two-story duplex at 45-47 Nichol St., Paris fire Chief Brad Frost said.
There were no injuries, he said.
Firefighters from 10 departments responded to the 5:30 p.m. call of a kitchen fire in one of the two rented apartments, the chief said. It took them about three hours to bring the blaze under control.
“Fire was blowing out the windows on the first floor and going up the side of the house” when the first crews arrived, Frost said.
Teenager Eric Westleigh reported the fire. Wednesday Westleigh and her family of five lived in one of the apartments, while Charlene Collins and her family of three rented the other.
Frost said he didn’t believe the Collins were home at the time.
The 30- by 40-foot house was owned by Jodi Chute of Casco and was insured, Frost said.
Only the shell of the building was left standing.
“It was a complete loss,” he said.
Sgt. Joel Davis of the Office of the State Fire Marshal was called to do an initial investigation into the cause Friday night. A state investigator will return Saturday morning to continue the work, Frost said.
Fire departments from Paris, Norway, Oxford, Hebron, Buckfield, West Paris, Waterford, Woodstock, Greenwood and Harrison were involved in the effort.
Central Maine Power Co. disconnected electrical service to the property.
The American Red Cross is assisting the Westleigh family with housing, Frost said.
mdelamater@sunjournal.com
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- Hoses and equipment cover Nichol Street in Paris on Friday evening.
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- Firefighters battle a house fire at 45-47 Nichol St. in Paris on Friday. Occupants made it out of the duplex, but numerous cats were unaccounted for. The fire was called in around 5:30 p.m.
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- A police officer observes flames coming out of the side of at duplex at 45-47 Nichol St. in Paris on Friday evening.
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- Hoses and equipment cover Nichol Street in Paris on Friday evening as firefighters battle a house fire.
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