Flames engulf a home late Tuesday afternoon at 64 French Road in Norway. Officials from the Office of the Maine State Fire Marshal could not determine whether the cause was electrical or some other means, Norway Assistant Fire Chief Ryan Fox said. Charles Blaquiere photo
NORWAY — The exact cause of a fire that destroyed a house Tuesday on French Road is considered undetermined due to the extensive damage, fire officials said Thursday.
The blaze likely started outdoors on or near a deck, Norway Fire Chief David Knox said. Officials from the Office of the Maine State Fire Marshal could not determine whether the cause was electrical or some other means, Norway Assistant Fire Chief Ryan Fox said.
The homeowner and a neighbor were inside the two-story residence at 64 French Road when the fire broke out about 5:30 p.m. A neighbor saw the flames, called 911 and broke down a door to notify two individuals, who escaped without injury, Fox said.
The house is in the outskirts of North Norway, at least 6 miles from the town center, Knox said. Due to the remote area, firefighters set up a tanker task force to draw water from Herrick Brook.
Fox said 13 fire departments provided tanker trucks to bring water to the scene. Due to the melting snowpack, Herrick Brook had plenty of water for firefighters.
The first firefighter on the scene, Fox arrived within minutes of the initial call and said everyone was already out of the home. Within minutes, the flames had spread from the deck area to fully engulfing the home.
The second story collapsed within 10 minutes, Fox said.
Firefighters kept an eye on a 250-gallon propane tank in the back of the home, preventing it from exploding. Flames did spread a short distance into the woods, perhaps a quarter of an acre, before crews stopped the advance, Fox said.
The homeowner is staying with relatives living in the Oxford Hills region, Fox said.
At least 35 firefighters from neighboring departments helped to extinguish the fire after several hours.
A cat is believed to have gotten out of the home but had not been located.
Because of the narrow road, mutual aid crews had to walk just under a mile to get to the scene to keep the road open for tankers, Fox said.
Among the departments who provided assistance were crews from Paris, Otisfield, Oxford, Waterford, Harrison, West Paris, Buckfield, Woodstock, Greenwood, Bridgton and Sweden.
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