MERCER — An accidental fire Friday caused extensive damage to a Mercer home but resulted in no injuries, a fire department official said.
Firefighters responded to the home at 258 Pond Road and found that part of the structure was on fire, said Chief Todd Pineo of the Norridgewock Fire Department, which serves both Norridgewock and Mercer. The fire was reported around 12:30 p.m., according to Somerset County’s emergency dispatch log.
The flames were mostly contained to one part of the home, Pineo said, but the fire caused extensive damage to the center part of the structure and left the home in unlivable condition.
“We got a really quick stop on it,” Pineo said.
The residents, who are also the owners, were not home during the fire, Pineo said.
One of the homeowners was nearby when the fire broke out, and after a neighbor notified him of the fire he was able to enter the home to get a dog out, Pineo said. Neither was injured and no other injuries from the fire were reported.
A preliminary investigation found that the fire was accidental, Pineo said. The homeowners’ insurance company will investigate further to determine the specific cause.
Mutual aid from the Skowhegan and Smithfield fire departments assisted the Norridgewock firefighters, Pineo said. The Madison Fire Department covered the Norridgewock fire station while crews put out the blaze.
The home was similar to a camp, but was being used as a year-round residence, Pineo said. It is next to North Pond, which lies within the towns of Mercer, Smithfield and Rome.
The most recent town tax records from 2023 list the owners of 258 Pond Road as Alexander K. Baker and Lacey Harding.
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