AUGUSTA — Fire ripped through a Civic Center Drive home Sunday leaving a family looking for a new place to live.

Nobody was home when the fire broke out and there were no injuries associated with the blaze, said Deputy Chief David Groder of the Augusta Fire Department.

The two-story home at 693 Civic Center Drive, owned by Brian Merrill, suffered extensive damage in the blaze, Groder said. The house is insured.

Groder was unsure how many people live in the home. The Red Cross was called to assist the displaced residents.

The fire started on the first floor in the wall between the laundry room and kitchen, Groder said.

“It’s going to be an accidental fire, electrical in nature,” he said.

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The fire was reported around 11:40 p.m. by a Sidney first responder heading to an unrelated call. Fire was shooting out of the roof by the time it was reported, Groder said.

Firefighters had the bulk of the fire out within 30 minutes, but spent several hours dousing hot spots. The fire quickly spread into the second floor and attic in the 1800’s-era, balloon-frame construction home, Groder said.

“It was just tough to dig out,” he said.

Firefighters from Belgrade, Gardiner, Oakland, Sidney, Togus and Winthrop assisted Augusta crews in the effort. The last of the firefighters left the scene around 3 a.m. Monday. Investigators returned a few hours later to determine what caused the fire.

An Augusta fire crew was called back to the home around 11:30 a.m. Monday to douse a remaining hot spot in the attic.
 


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