A South Gardiner mobile home was destroyed by fire Tuesday morning, drawing seven fire departments to the blaze on Leighton Lane, just off River Avenue.

The two people living in the home were not there when the fire started. It was reported to authorities at 8:30 a.m. and firefighters extinguished it in about 15 minutes, said Gardiner Fire Chief Al Nelson.

“When we arrived, there was heavy fire showing from the (front end) of the home,” Nelson said. “We didn’t know the occupants had been accounted for, but a primary search found nothing.”

The home was “a total loss,” Nelson said.

The residents, who owned the mobile home and the land it stood on, were at a medical appointment Tuesday morning when the fire started but came home later, Nelson said.

The owners declined to speak to a reporter through a family member who was with them. They will be staying with relatives who live in the area, Nelson said.

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Property tax records available on the city website identify the owners as John and Nancy Greenleaf.

Though blustery wind was blowing Tuesday, Nelson said wind didn’t hamper efforts to fight the fire. Firefighters contained the fire to the white, aluminum-sided trailer, which was about 200 feet back from River Avenue. Halloween decorations outside the entrance and other objects on the lawn were still intact after the fire.

River Avenue traffic was blocked in both directions as responders fought the blaze.

Nelson said he did not know what caused the fire. He called the state fire marshal’s office to investigate, as is standard practice, but he did not think the circumstances were suspicious. He also didn’t know if the home was insured.

Firefighters from Gardiner, West Gardiner, Farmingdale, Randolph, Pittston, Augusta and Togus responded the blaze. Gardiner police also helped out, Nelson said.

Charles Eichacker — 621-5642

ceichacker@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @ceichacker


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