CHELSEA — Fire crews from five communities battled a house fire on Keith Street for nearly six hours Tuesday.
When they were done, the house was complete loss.
Smoke from the fire was visible from Route 9, billowing from the house at 31 Keith St., not far south of the Augusta town line.
Neighbor Roberta Veilleux called 911 around 12:30 p.m., after she noticed the fire when she went out to get her mail.
On Tuesday afternoon, Chelsea Assistant Fire Chief Jim Gagnon said the fire has spread throughout the entire home when crews arrived before 1 p.m. Gagnon said then it was too early to know the cause of the fire. Firefighters were overheard telling property owners Melissa and Michael Dusoe that the fire started in the basement.
The home, which stood on a wooded lot, had two levels and was built into the side of a small hill.
Crews opened up holes in the home to try to suppress the blaze, but flames road back through the windows and the roof.
The Dusoes were not at home when the fire broke out, but the two birds, two cats and a dog were inside the home. Melissa Dusoe said all the pets probably were dead.
“There’s really not much to say,” Michael Dusoe said, watching the fire rage surrounded by family and friends.
“We lost everything,” Melissa Dusoe said.
Firefighters cleared the scene not long after 6 p.m.
Crews from Chelsea, Augusta, Pittston, Vassalboro and Togus responded to the fire.
Neighbors gathered to help control traffic and to watch the fire.
Kennebec Journal staff writer Jessica Lowell contributed to this report.
Sam Shepherd — 621-5666
sshepherd@centralmaine.com
Twitter: @SamShepME
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