An Anson woman escaped injury from a fire that extensively damaged her 130-year-old home Sunday, the town’s fire chief said.
The homeowner, Martha Walker, woke up Sunday morning at around 8:30 a.m. to the sound of glass breaking and at first thought one of her pets had knocked a breakable object over, Fire Chief Jeremy Manzer said.
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However, Walker discovered the entire second floor of the large Hilltop Road farm house was full of smoke and called 911, said Manzer.
Walker’s brother, who lives next door, also heard the noise and thought it was a window breaking, Manzer said. He went over and saw the fire and helped get his sister out of the home.
Manzer said Walker was not injured, and her pets all appeared to have escaped. One cat is not accounted for, but fire marshals and firefighters have inspected the home and not found any sign of the cat.
“We’re relatively sure it got out, and it’s just maybe hiding in one of the hay barns,” he said.
The fire is not suspicious, and he said firefighters believe it may be electrical.
He said the first firefighters arrived at the scene seven or eight minutes after it was reported, and the fire was under control in about 45 minutes. He said it took more than three hours in order to get the fire completely extinguished.
“We were actually able to contain it to some of the bedrooms and an exterior wall, containing it in the two rooms that it started in,” he said.
While there was extensive water and smoke damage, Manzer said the house is not a total loss and can be repaired.
About 50 firefirefighters from New Portland, Industry, Madison, Skowhegan and Norridgewock were called to the fire.
He said the large number of firefighters were needed to provide relief fighting the flames on the hot day.
“The guys were tired from the heat,” he said. He said there were also strong winds feeding the fire at the house, which sits on top of a hill.
Kaitlin Schroeder — 861-9252
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