Remodeled Crystal home ravaged in weekend fire> Wood stove likely cause of Sunday morning blaze

CRYSTAL – A three-story, recently renovated home, was gutted by fire around noon Sunday.

Four fire departments, with 35 firefighters and seven trucks, were at the Jason MacArthur home on the Retreat Road for nearly 3 hours.

“The third story was gutted by the fire and the remainder of the home was damaged by smoke and water,” assistant fire Chief Bruce Willette said Sunday afternoon. “We had it under control in about an hour.”

There was no one at home at the time of the fire. MacArthur’s mother, who lives across the road, called the fire department just before 11:30 a.m. when she saw smoke coming from the structure.

The cause of the fire remained unknown Sunday but firefighters believed it started near a wood stove in the basement of the building.

MacArthur lived in the home with his wife and child. The home was insured, Willette said.

Firefighters and equipment from Island Falls, Oakfield, Stacyville and Patten answered the four-alarm fire.

Willette said the interior of the home had recently been gutted and renovated. The exterior was finished with new vinyl siding.

Willette did not have a dollar estimate of damage, but said it was extensive.