JACKMAN — A fire on Sunday destroyed a structure that was used as a second residential home on 30 Mill Road, according to authorities.

When firefighters arrived at the noontime fire, “there were flames rolling right out the front” of the four-bedroom house, said Bill Jarvis, fire chief of the Jackman-Moose River Fire Department.

Kirt DeWitz, of Alfred, who owns the property with his wife, has insurance on the house, Jarvis said. The couple had bought the property in December and were planning to make Jackman their home after retiring in three years.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire. A message left with the office Monday was not immediately returned.

Jarvis said the cause of the fire does not appear suspicious.

A neighbor reported seeing flames, Jarvis said. No one was in the house at the time and no firefighters were injured, he said.

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Jarvis said fire crews left the scene around 4:30 p.m., but had gotten the fire under control within an hour. However, they were called back to Mill Road Sunday night and Monday morning when hot spots popped up through the floorboard.

“There’s no foundation, just crawlspace with duct work for the furnace, so it’s hard to get at anything in there,” Jarvis said.

While the building is still upright, Jarvis said it will have to be demolished because of the damage. Firefighters controlled the fire, preventing it from jumping to a nearby two-story garage or small shed. There was also a small building within 2 feet of the house that housed the furnace, he said, but it sustained only minor damage.

The Jackman-Moose River Fire Department was assisted by the Bingham, Rockwood and West Forks fire departments, as well as the Jackman Area Volunteer Ambulance Corps.

Madeline St. Amour — 861-9239

mstamour@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @madelinestamour


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