VASSALBORO — One person was injured and a Vassalboro home was left uninhabitable Friday afternoon when a tree fell through the building’s roof.

The massive tree tore through the roof around 3:15 p.m. at the house at 36 Priest Hill Road, striking a woman inside on the head, according to Vassalboro Fire Chief Eric Rowe. The woman, whose name was not released, was taken to Inland Hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening, Rowe said.

“The tree was big and old, and the wind we had today just took it down,” Rowe said in an interview Friday. “There’s quite a bit of damage. It’s an old house.”

Around four people were believed to have been in the home at the time the tree crashed into it, but only one injury was reported.

After the accident, firefighters cleared the property and called in Central Maine Power Co. to shut off power to the damaged building. When firefighters searched the house, they found a crib in the room where the tree had landed.

“If that would have happened at night or in an ice storm, there could have been a different outcome,” Rowe said.

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The American Red Cross of Maine announced it is helping the family of five that lived in the home, providing food, shelter and “other essentials” as the residents try to relocate.

“Over the next few days the Red Cross will remain in contact with the family to provide financial assistance and community referrals as they begin to make their road to recovery,” the Red Cross said in a news release.

According to Rowe, the family was renting the home, located in the heart of Vassalboro. The house’s owner, Scott Ackley, is working to get the tree removed, he said.

Kate McCormick — 861-9218

kmccormick@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @KateRMcCormick


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