KINGFIELD — The State Fire Marshal’s Office determined a fire that destroyed a mobile home last week at a Winter Hill Road property was arson.

A man and woman in their early 20s lived at the mobile home with a young child and they were not home when the fire broke out Wednesday night, according to Sgt. Ken Grimes, of the fire marshal’s office.

Grimes would not identify the people who live at the 8 Winter Hill Road rental property. According to Kingfield town records, it is owned by Aaron and Tracy Knapp, of 135 Granite Heights, Farmington.

A message left on the Knapps’ answering machine was not returned immediately Monday afternoon.

Investigators determined the fire started in the kitchen of the mobile home. Grimes would not give details about the investigation because it’s an active case that could be jeopardized by releasing information.

There is no evidence suggesting the fire was started to hurt people, and the blaze gutted the mobile home before firefighters extinguished the fire some time after 8 p.m., Grimes said. He did not know if the mobile home was insured.

Grimes described the fire as an isolated incident, saying there is no evidence to suggest there is an arsonist at large who poses a public safety risk.

Neighbors who live nearby told emergency responders they heard an explosion the night of the fire. But investigators determined that the reports are likely tied to a back-draft incident, which is a typical occurrence during fires where a rush of air causes loud noises and excessive flames mistaken for an explosion, Grimes said.

No explosive devices are believed to have been used in connection with the fire, he said.

The mobile home destroyed by the fire is near several residences and a medical center, but none of the other buildings were at risk from the fire, Grimes said.

Emergency responders from Kingfield, New Portland and New Vineyard assisted at the fire scene, he said. No injuries were reported.

Kingfield Fire Chief Charles Twitchell has not returned several messages since the fire and there was no answer at the fire station phone number.

David Robinson — 861-9287

drobinson@centralmaine.com