A fire that destroyed a home at 20 Everett Drive in Norway on Tuesday was caused by a heater used to thaw pipes under it, according to fire officials.
Norway Fire Chief David Knox said the owner finished thawing the pipes, turned the heater off, left the home for a short time, and returned to find the house on fire.
Investigators with the Office of State Fire Marshal said a combination of heaters and electrical heat tape were being used to thaw the pipes, which inadvertently caused the fire, Shannon Moss, public information officer for the Maine Department of Public Safety said. The fire was ruled accidental.
Knox arrived within minutes of the call at 3:50 p.m. and the whole right side of the home was on fire, he said. No one was injured. Two cats were unaccounted for, he said.
Something, possibly insulation, caught fire under the home and burned through the floor, he said. Firefighters could not enter the building because of the flames.
Firefighters from several departments shuttled water from a hydrant downtown about 3 miles away.
Anita Gadbois owns the property, Knox said. The home was insured.
About 15 firefighters were on the scene and others were in tanker trucks to help with the water supply.
“Be careful with heating,” Knox said. The heater used to thaw the pipes was a tube heater used in construction that is propane-fired, he said. Even though it was turned off, the home caught fire, he added.
*The Fire Marshal’s Office reminds residents that thawing frozen pipes can present a serious fire hazard if not done properly,” Moss said. “Never use open flames, such as torches or heat guns, to thaw pipes. Portable heaters should be kept at least three feet away from combustible materials and should never be left unattended.
“Only use electrical heat tape according to the manufacturer’s instructions and inspect it regularly for damage. If you are unsure how to safely thaw frozen pipes, contact a licensed plumber.”
As firefighters battled the fire, everything was coated in ice. The roof collapsed and debris still smoldered beneath it. The fire rekindled several times after firefighters left, requiring them to return.
Firefighters left the scene for good just after midnight early Wednesday morning, according to Knox.
Assisting Norway firefighters either on site or transporting water were fire departments from Waterford, Paris, Otisfield, Oxford, and Harrison. MaineHealth EMS ambulance, formerly known as Pace, was also on the scene, Knox said.
