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The home at 983 Smithfield Road in Belgrade was a total loss following a fire that began in the garage. (Photo courtesy of the Office of State Fire Marshal)

Occupants were able to escape safely in a fire Wednesday afternoon that destroyed a Belgrade house and took responders several hours to extinguish.

Investigators with the Office of State Fire Marshal determined the fire at 983 Smithfield Road started in the garage and spread to the detached residence, according to a release from the fire marshal’s office.

Welding had taken place in the garage shortly before the fire, but, given the extent of the damage, investigators were not able to determine a cause, classifying the fire as undetermined. However, they could not rule out the welding as a potential cause.

The Belgrade Fire Department was assisted by several other departments from surrounding communities in putting out the fire. No injuries were reported.

Sara Coughlin covers the Augusta area for the Kennebec Journal. She received a degree in English and government with a concentration in creative writing from Bowdoin College, where she served as an editor...

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