SIDNEY — A house on a road near Messalonskee Lake was destroyed by fire Tuesday morning.

A fire at 74 Poppy Lane, which is off Pond Road along the eastern side of the lake, was reported just after 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Video courtesy of Chuck Cabaniss

State police said Tuesday afternoon that a murder-suicide in Gardiner “has a connection to” the Sidney fire, but the investigation is still ongoing.

Crews from Sidney, Belgrade, Oakland, Fairfield, Winslow and Augusta fire departments responded to the scene. By late morning, much of the house appeared to be destroyed, with just a chimney standing amid fire and smoke.