DURHAM — A Hallowell Road house was destroyed Wednesday afternoon in a blaze believed to have started when a propane tank exploded.

Fire crews from several towns battled the fire at the small house on Route 9, directly across the street from Durham Community School.

A witness said the man who lives in the house returned and found his home ablaze shortly after 3 p.m.

It is believed that no one was hurt in the blaze. 

Crews from Durham, Lisbon, Pownal and other towns attacked the flames using water from portable tanks. Half an hour after the blaze began, however, the roof had burned through and most of the walls had collapsed.

Several people reported they could see smoke from the fire from nearby Rabbit Road and from Route 136 in Auburn.

By 4 p.m., the small, single-story home was mostly burned, but fire crews were able to save at least one vehicle in the yard.

The identify of the family who lived in the house was not immediately available.

Early reports were that a propane tank attached to the house had exploded, causing flames to spread to the house. The State Fire Marshal’s Office was called to investigate the cause.


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