Firefighters from seven departments fight a nightlong blaze at 2 Robin St. in Benton. Photo courtesy of the Fairfield and Benton Fire-Rescue Department

BENTON — A fire spreading from the basement of 2 Robin St. destroyed the family home Friday evening in a nightlong battle with seven departments.

The homeowners, two adults and a child, returned to their residence to find two stories full of smoke. They called in the fire shortly after 6 p.m.

Saturday was Fairfield and Benton Fire-Rescue Department’s 10th fire call this year. The recent chain of blazes have been brought on by a mix of mechanical incidents and heating issues, as residents look for ways to stay warm during the winter, said Chief Travis Leary.

“It’s been a mix of everything, some heating-related things; we’ve had a couple incidents up to Sappi that’s more mechanical, related to their process and stuff like that,” Leary said. “It definitely has been some heating related fires, though, for sure.”

Firefighters arrived to 2 Robin St. to find a heavy fire in the basement that had extended up the chimney to the other two stories, Leary said.

“It was pretty extensive,” Leary said. “The basement burned through half of the house, the floor joists were burned right through, and then extensive damage up into the first and second floor, around the chimney area, and then, of course, smoke and water damage throughout. I would say it’s probably a total loss.”

Firefighters from Fairfield, Waterville, Winslow, Clinton, Albion, Oakland and Skowhegan were called to assist on scene while Canaan manned the Fairfield station. Kennebec COunty Sheriff’s Office, the American Red Cross and Delta Ambulance were also present on scene.

A Winslow firefighter sustained minor injuries fighting the fire, Leary said. He was treated at the scene and did not require transport.

The Office of State Fire Marshal is investigating the cause, but the fire is considered accidental at this time, Leary said.

“They were there last night, and they’re waiting to get in contact with an insurance company,” Leary said. “I believe they’re going to go back Monday, is what he said, to finish the investigation. No foul play expected.”

The fire was cleared around midnight. It wasn’t until 1:30 a.m. that the fire department was cleaned up and back in service, Leary said.

Construction to the home over the years created void spaces that are prone to collapse and are a leading cause of firefighter fatalities. Leary said the department needed extensive assistance fighting the blaze.

“We ended up calling in quite a bit of mutual aid and getting the fire extinguished, just to open up the house because of construction improvements to the home over the years — created a lot of void spaces and stuff like that.”