SKOWHEGAN — The American Red Cross is assisting a family of five with housing following a kitchen fire on Sunday that forced them to seek temporary accommodations elsewhere.

Skowhegan Fire Chief Shawn Howard said the Red Cross was called after crews knocked down a kitchen fire in an apartment on Pine Street Sunday that was called in at 2:49 p.m.

“It was a stove-top fire that started when the resident was frying fish,” Howard said Monday. “The fire was contained to the kitchen. It went up the wall into the ceiling a little bit, but the guys knocked it down pretty quick. We had the Red Cross provide some housing for a couple of nights while they could get the kitchen fixed. We didn’t want them staying in there until they could get it cleaned up.”

No one was injured in the fire. Pine Street is a small side street connecting West Front Street with Willow Street, just before West Front Market.

Howard said the displaced family consisted of two adults, two grown children and one small child about 8 or 10 years old. He said the fire was contained to a small area and that residents of the upstairs apartment were able to return home immediately.

“With the soot in the kitchen, we wanted them to find another place to stay for a night or two so the landlord could get it cleaned up,” Howard said. “They didn’t have any resources so we reached out to the Red Cross to help them out with that.”

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Disaster responders from the American Red Cross of Maine were working with the five people to ensure that they have food, a safe place to sleep and other essentials following the single-family home fire, according to a Red Cross news release.

Over the next several days, the Red Cross will be in contact with them to provide financial assistance and community referrals as they begin to make their road to recovery.

The American Red Cross helps people affected by home fires and other disasters with their immediate physical needs and also provides them with emotional support. Individuals wishing to support Red Cross Disaster Services can call (800) RED-CROSS or visit MaineRedCross.org.

Doug Harlow — 612-2367

dharlow@centralmaine.com

Twitter:@Doug_Harlow


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