OAKLAND — The Office of Maine State Fire Marshal is continuing to investigate the cause of a fire Saturday night that displaced a family of nine.

Sgt. Ken Grimes of the marshal’s office said Monday that the department is determining if the fire was started by an electrical problem.

Oakland firefighter Vaughn Farnham, left, speaks Sunday with state fire marshal’s office investigator Jeremy Damren at the home of Jon and Betty Belanger, which was seriously damaged by fire Saturday night. Two dogs died in the fire and the family of nine was left homeless. Staff photo by David Leaming

Related Headlines

• Oakland fire Saturday leaves family homeless

“We’re going to have a member from the state electrical inspectors come in tomorrow and take a look at that with us,” Grimes said. “Hopefully that will help shed a little light on what transpired so we can classify it.”

The fire at 250 Oak St. was reported at 10:44 p.m. Saturday. Oakland Fire Chief Dave Coughlin said the fire appeared to have originated in the kitchen.

The blaze gutted the single family home and killed two dogs trapped inside. Betty and Jon Belanger, who own the home, were visiting family in Connecticut with their seven young children when the fire broke out. The family returned to Oakland Sunday.

The Belangers lost nearly everything in the fire, and community members have mobilized to provide them with children’s clothing, toys, and a place to stay while they get back on their feet.

Oakland Fire Chief Dave Coughlin said 35 to 40 firefighters from Oakland, Waterville, Fairfield, Belgrade and Sidney responded to the alarm. The fire was put out in about an hour.

Coughlin said Sunday morning that the fire was severe, and the house “is not habitable at this point.”

Related Stories