March 29, 2024
BANGOR DAILY NEWS (BANGOR, MAINE

Fire destroys family’s home

BROOKSVILLE — A local family of five, out of town for Thanksgiving, was expected to return home to see the gutted remains of their house Sunday night.

No one was injured in the structure fire that destroyed the two-story home’s interior, but the family lost most of its belongings, the local fire chief said.

The Route 176 home of the Ora Merritt family in North Brooksville was found burning just before 7:30 p.m. Saturday night by Assistant Fire Chief Bill Leck of the Brooksville Fire Department, Fire Chief Darrell Fowler said Sunday.

Leck was driving by the home, which is set back in the woods, when he smelled smoke, Fowler said. The home proved to be fully involved, with flames extending through the ceiling and second floor walls.

Approximately 30 firefighters and four fire departments responded to the request for mutual aid, Fowler said. Six fire trucks from the departments of Brooksville, Blue Hill, Penobscot and Sedgwick arrived at the scene, as did a Peninsula Ambulance Corps rescue vehicle.

Shortly after their arrival, firefighters determined that no one was home. Many of the firefighters were released, but several stayed to attack the stubborn fire until around 2 a.m. Sunday morning, Fowler said.

Firefighters spent much of the six and one half hours removing wall and ceiling partitions to find “hot spots,” Fowler said.

“We did one thing we’ve never done before,” he added, which was to pump water with a four-inch thick water main directly from a farm pond about 700 feet away.

Next door neighbor David Markle said the two cats firefighters feared died in the fire were found safe in the woods Sunday. Three ducks also survived.

The cause of the fire is still unknown, but a state fire marshal investigator is expected to inspect the building Monday. The home was insured, Fowler said.

The fire, which was contained to the residence, was Brooksville’s first major fire in about four years, Fowler said.

Residents said the Merritt family will be offered shelter by their church, the West Brooksville Congregational Church.

Brooksville residents also are conducting a clothing drive for the family’s three children, ages 2, 4, and 12. Clothing is needed in boy’s size 2 or 3, and girl’s sizes 4 or 5 and junior 5 or 6.

Clothing or donations may be sent to Box 89, Brooksville, Maine 04617. For more information, contact Betty Fowler at 326-4906.


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