GARDINER — A Tuesday fire that destroyed a mobile home on Blueberry Hill Lane was intentionally set.

Sgt. Ken Grimes, of the Office of State Fire Marshal, said Friday the investigation into the fire is continuing.

“It was arson,” Grimes said.

The fire destroyed the home, which Grimes characterized as a recreational travel trailer, and most of its contents.

“The intensity of the fire is not related to any one particular thing,” Grimes said. It depends on the fuel load of the building, which includes both the contents and the construction.

“Because it was a recreational travel trailer, the walls and construction are lighter,” he said.

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Aside from the construction, he said, other factors to consider include how long the fire was burning before it was noticed, how soon it was reported and the distance firefighters had to travel to get to the scene.

Eric and Kristie Baker and their three children were living in the travel trailer as they worked on building a log home on the property from logs harvested on site.

The family’s dog and six chickens survived the fire.

The Bakers learned of the fire from Eric Baker’s mother as they were coming home from a doctor’s appointment.

The Bakers have received lodging assistance from both the American Red Cross and the Gardiner Fire Fund.

Jessica Lowell — 621-5632

jlowell@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @JLowellKJ


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