RUMFORD — Seth Carey tried to extinguish a fire that eventually gutted his home at 455 High St. early Monday morning, Fire Chief Chris Reed said.

Carey was in bed, heard crackling, looked outside and tried to douse the flames with a garden hose before calling 911 at 6:12 a.m., the chief said.

“Upon arrival, there was heavy fire in the rear of the building, which was entering the structure,” Reed said.

An investigator from the Office of the State Fire Marshal “believes the fire started outside the building and worked its way in, which is what Carey reported as well,” Reed said. The investigator brought a dog trained to detect chemicals to assist in determining the cause, Reed said.

One firefighter suffered an eye injury and was treated by Med-Care Ambulance before seeking treatment with an eye doctor.

Fire departments from Mexico, Dixfield, Peru and Andover assisted.

The building remains standing, but the interior is gutted.

The Maine Department of Environmental Protection took the remaining heating oil out of the basement tank, the chief said. Water and power were cut off and the building will be turned over to Carey to board up.