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fire scene
Firefighting hoses run through a driveway to a mobile home at 39 Back Road in Skowhegan, which was severely damaged by a fire overnight Tuesday. (Courtesy of the Skowhegan Fire Department)

An overnight fire Tuesday destroyed a Skowhegan mobile home, displacing its four residents, the town’s fire chief said.

Fire officials believe the blaze at 39 Back Road, which was reported around 12:50 a.m., was caused by an improperly installed wood stove pipe, according to Chief Ryan Johnston of the Skowhegan Department.

Firefighters had the fire under control by 1:18 a.m., Johnston said.

He said the home, a single-wide trailer with an addition, suffered a “tremendous” amount of damage and is not livable. 

No injuries were reported; everyone inside and their pets made it out safely, Johnston said.

The chief said the Red Cross was called to assist the four residents. He believed three people were inside when the fire broke out but was unsure, as there were many people at the scene while firefighters were there.

Crews from the Fairfield-Benton, Madison and Norridgewock fire departments assisted Skowhegan’s department, Johnston said. The Clinton Fire Department also responded to cover the town while firefighters were working.

Jake covers public safety, courts and immigration in central Maine. He started reporting at the Morning Sentinel in November 2023 and previously covered all kinds of news in Skowhegan and across Somerset...