Chimney blamed in Surry blaze Flames spread fast from fallen embers

SURRY – Fire damaged the home of Howard Young on Route 172 Saturday afternoon.

According to Surry Fire Chief Corey Esposito, the call reporting a structure fire came in about 1:30 p.m.

Esposito said he suspects that the fire began as a chimney fire and that embers from the chimney fell to the ground, setting fire to the tall dry grass near the back of the building.

“It started burning the siding and then burned through the exterior of the building,” he said. “Because of the balloon construction, it went right up the wall to the attic.”

When firefighters arrived on the scene, thick black smoke and flames were coming out the back wall of the building, he said.

Nearly 50 firefighters from four departments fought the fire, which took about an hour and a half to bring completely under control. Again, the construction of the house worked against the firefighters.

“We had to keep chasing it,” Esposito said.

After the fire was out, a crew from the Ellsworth Fire Department went through the building using the department’s thermal imaging camera to check for hot spots.

A crew from Surry remained on the scene in case of flare-ups.

No one was injured in the fire, but a crew from County Ambulance remained on the scene during the blaze.

Surry firefighters were joined at the fire by crews from Ellsworth, Sedgwick and Blue Hill under the mutual aid agreement among the towns.