House fire leaves family of 5 homeless

TOWNSHIP 17, RANGE 5 — A family of five was left homeless and two volunteer firefighters treated for heat exhaustion as the result of a structural fire Saturday morning at Township 17, Range 5.

Sinclair Volunteer Fire Department Chief Raymond Thibodeau said the home of Rudy St. Peter was demolished, despite the efforts of about two dozen firefighters and five trucks that responded to the call.

He said firefighters remained at the scene for nearly five hours, but could do little to save the house because it was engulfed in flames by the time they arrive.

Thibodeau said the fire was reported at about 9:30 a.m. by the St. Peter’s 10-year-old son, who was at home watching television when the fire broke out.

Assistant Fire Chief Jimmy Daigle and firefighter Robert Sinclair, both of T17 R4, and the first ones to arrive at the scene, were taken to Northern Maine Medical Center at Fort Kent when they collapsed from heat exhaustion after fighting the fire for about 20 minutes in more than 90-degree heat.

Daigle said he and Sinclair were treated and released. No other injuries were reported as the result of the fire.

Thibodeau said officials from the State Fire Marshal’s office believed the fire’s origin was electrical. He also said the house was insured.