From her front porch, Nina Mason shot this photo of the Thursday evening fire that destroyed a home at 411 South Rumford Road in Rumford.
RUMFORD — A house fire at 411 South Rumford Road likely began near a work bench in the garage Thursday night, Fire Chief Bob Chase said Friday.
He noted that there were several flammables in the garage, including gas cans and propane tanks but that being absolutely positive was difficult because of the extent of the damage.
State Fire Marshal’s Office investigators were at the scene with Chase on Friday to investigate the cause of the fire that destroyed the home of David A. Arsenault.
Fire crews from Rumford, Andover, Mexico, Woodstock, Peru, Dixfield and other towns battled ice and temperatures in the single digits as they fought to knock down the fire, called in by the homeowner at 6:31 p.m.
Chase said this was a defensive stop from the start because the house was totally engulfed when firefighters arrived. They had to be alert because of several explosions of flammables on the property.
The chief said he had 18 firefighters from Rumford, with about 35 firefighters total battling the blaze. “It was a very good turnout.”
Power lines were down in the street and Central Maine Power was called to the scene.
Chase said that there were no injuries reported.
He said the two-story house, with a breezeway into a garage, was about 4 miles in from Wyman Hill Road. He said the water source for tankers was from a hydrant on Wyman Hill Road, with a tanker from Woodstock loading at the Rumford Point Fire Station.
Chase said he didn’t believe anything was salvaged from the fire, which also destroyed two vehicles and three Harley-Davidsons.
He was told by Arsenault that he bought the house 31 years ago. The home, which he shared with his son, Corbin, was insured and they have support from local family members.
Chase said the scene was cleared at 11:30 p.m., with firefighters returning to the scene overnight to put out hot spots.
bfarrin@sunmediagroup.net
This was the scene shortly after firefighters arrived at the Thursday evening fire which destroyed a home at 411 South Rumford Road in Rumford.
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