Fire heavily damages garage in Chesterville

CHESTERVILLE — A fire heavily damaged a four-bay garage Wednesday at 171 George Thomas Road when a bulldozer caught fire while it was being worked on, fire Chief Edward Hastings IV said.

He estimated damage at $30,000 to $50,000, including tools.

Twenty to 25 firefighters from eight departments responded to help put out the fire.

The pole-style barn structure was located behind Robert Smith’s house.

Smith was working on an older gasoline-powered bulldozer in the garage when the engine backfired and then caught fire, Hastings said.

He tried to contain it but couldn’t, and it spread to the garage, he said.

Firefighters from Chesterville, Farmington, East Dixfield, Jay, New Sharon, Temple, Vienna and Wilton were able to put out the fire quickly and prevent it from spreading to the house and into the woods.

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: Smoke billowed from a four-bay garage that caught fire Wednesday afternoon behind a house at 171 George Thomas Road, across from the Sandy River Golf Course, in Chesterville. Twenty to 25 firefighters from eight towns responded.

: Firefighters put out a fire in a four-bay garage Wednesday afternoon behind a house at 171 George Thomas Road in Chesterville. A bulldozer being worked on in the garage backfired and the engine caught fire and it spread to the garage, Chesterville fire Chief Edward Hastings IV said.

: Several fire departments fought a blaze in a four-bay garage Wednesday afternoon behind a house at 171 George Thomas Road in Chesterville. Smoke could be seen for miles. Firefighters knocked down the fire quickly once they arrived.