Boy narrowly escapes fire at Pittsfield home> Town had sought to take building for back taxes

PITTSFIELD — A month ago, David Badger stood before the Pittsfield Council and begged that they allow him to keep his house rather than take it for back taxes. About 4 p.m. Thursday, the house he tried so hard to save was destroyed by fire.

Badger’s Route 100 home caught fire when a wood stove fire spread to a nearby woodpile, according to Paul DuPerry, 13, who was home taking a nap when the fire began.

DuPerry said he had been sleeping about an hour when he awoke and went to open his bedroom door.

“When I touched it, it was really hot,” said the boy. Believing the bedoom windows were too small to climb through, DuPerry said he opened the door and quickly ran barefoot through thick smoke to get outside.

Left inside were a snake, an iguana and a bird. “I tried to go back inside,” DuPerry said, “but there was too much smoke.

“Everything I own is in there,” said a visibly distraught DuPerry.

DuPerry and his mother, Jan Morrisette, had moved to the home just a week ago, said the boy. His mother was at work in Waterville at the time of the fire. He said Badger was also at work.

According to firefighters, all the pets died in the fire which destroyed the interior of the one-story home and most of the family’s possessions. Firefighters said the teen-ager was lucky to have awakened when he did. They estimated that another 10 minutes inside the home may have proven fatal.

Badger was allowed to make arrangements with the town to pay back taxes on his home after he appealed to council members in early June asking for compassion.

Badger described himself as a recovering alcoholic and frankly discussed his five-year battle with alcohol with councilors.

“First I lost my job at Edwards , then I lost my kids, and then I just sat in bars,” Badger said, explaining why his taxes had been ignored since 1991. “I’m trying to get my life back and in order,” he told councilors, who thanked him for his honesty and applauded him for his courage in speaking out.

After Badger’s property was reassessed and abatements approved, the council allowed him to enter into a payment arrangement for his back taxes.

St. Albans, Hartland and Burnham fire departments assisted at Thursday’s fire. DuPerry did not require medical attention.