WINSLOW — A fire at an abandoned camp near Patee Pond is being investigated by the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

Officials said they believe the fire’s origin is suspicious.

The Fire Department was called at 10:25 a.m. Thursday to the area of 26 Whitefish Road, where smoke in a small cabin was reported.

Fire Chief David LaFountain said that the roughly 10-foot-by-30-foot single-story camp had been vacant for years and had no electricity. Grass was growing all around the building and its door was kicked in, LaFountain said.

The fire appeared to have been set on the carpet and caught on a shelf, but it didn’t spread far or do much damage, LaFountain said. Firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze. The fire caused no injuries.

The fire is under investigation because “we cannot come up with an accidental cause,” LaFountain said.

The structure might have been a trailer at one time that was re-sided with wood, LaFountain said. The floors were rotten and firefighters had to walk carefully to avoid breaking through, he added.

Reached Thursday afternoon, Winslow police Detective Sgt. Ron McGowen said his department is handing off the investigation to the fire marshal’s office.


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