Firefighters from Oxford, Norway, Otisfield and Mechanic Falls answered the call.
OXFORD – A trailer was razed when its underbelly was ignited by a propane heater set there to thaw pipes.
Oxford Fire Lt. Shawn Cordwell said crews arrived on the scene quickly Saturday, but it was too late to save the trailer owned by Miguel Ibarguen at 72 Kayla Drive.
“We were just finishing putting hose up from car a fire, so we were out the door in a minute,” Cordwell said. “The trailer was fully involved when we got there and about half of it had already collapsed.”
Vance Ashley, who Cordwell said was in his mid-30s, rented the trailer.
“He was trying to thaw pipes with a propane heater and the burnable material under the trailer caught on fire,” Cordwell said. “He was working in environment with wood, paper and other burnable material around,” Cordwell said. “The wood joists and plastic can’t take a lot from a heat source.”
Cordwell said he had to bring in a backhoe to knock about half of the trailer down and move debris around to check for hot spots to insure the fire wouldn’t start again.
About 50 firefighters from Oxford, Norway, Otisfield and Mechanic Falls answered the call.
Firefighters from the Poland Fire Department covered the Oxford station and a crew from the Auburn Fire Department filled in at the Mechanic Falls station.
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