EAST DIXFIELD — Fire whipped through the home of David and Roxanne Swett in East Dixfield early Sunday morning, but both escaped safely, according to East Dixfield fire Chief Randy Hall.

He said the modified 1-and-a-half-story farmhouse, which was at least 100 years old, was totally destroyed. It was also uninsured. The couple is staying with relatives, Hall said.
State fire investigator Sgt. Ken Grimes of Augusta said on scene that the fire was accidental.
“It was caused by a malfunctioning electrical system in the front living room,” Grimes said.
The Swetts escaped from the burning house at 7:45 a.m.
David Swett, 53, was refurbishing the house and had placed new siding on most of the outside walls. Grimes said he had also been trying to fix problems with the electrical system to prevent a fire.
The Swetts’ 911 call to Franklin County dispatchers in Farmington scrambled firefighters from Chesterville, Dixfield, East Dixfield, Dixfield, Jay, Livermore Falls, Temple and Wilton to the scene.
Located at 931 Route 2, the house is opposite the unmanned East Dixfield fire station.
Pumpers and tankers from all eight departments shuttled back and forth bringing water to the scene from the closest hydrant, located three miles away on Route 17 at the old G.H. Bass Shoe shop in North Jay, Hall said.
“When we arrived, there was heavy fire coming out the front window and front door,” Hall said.
At 8:30 a.m., dense black and gray smoke towered above the 931 Route 2 home and flames extended through the roof from one end of the building to the other.
Firefighters had to trudge through deep snow behind it to reach the burning backside.
Electricity to the house was cut at about 8:45 a.m. allowing firefighters access to the other two-thirds of the house as massive flames erupted out an upper floor window.
As several fire trucks and crews assembled outside, Wilton and Dixfield police and Oxford County Sheriff’s Sgt. Timothy Holland diverted Route 2 traffic around the scene on Route 17 and More Acres Road for more than five hours.
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