Carmel house reduced to ashes Everything lost as family flees

CARMEL – A Carmel family escaped its burning home through a second-story window Sunday night but the house and all of their belongings were lost.

Tim and Veronica Robinson and their two daughters, ages 3 and 4, escaped through the window and received cuts and some burns. They were treated at St. Joseph Hospital in Bangor. Tim Robinson and the two girls were released Monday morning. Veronica Robinson remained at the hospital Monday evening. A hospital spokesperson said she could not release information about her condition.

Doug Small of Carmel owned the Route 69 home and had rented it to the Robinson family since last June, he said. Veronica Robinson suffered smoke inhalation and burns on her hands, he said.

The Robinsons called the fire department from a neighbor’s home where they fled at about 11 p.m.

About 51 firefighters from Carmel, Hampden, Hermon, Levant, Stetson, Etna and Newburgh battled the fire throughout the early morning hours.

“It was totally involved when we arrived. It was just too far gone to even start an interior attack. We did an exterior attack just to prevent it from spreading to other homes and to the garage,” said Carmel Fire Chief Bill Crawley.

The two-story wooden structure was demolished.

“The neighboring houses were a concern,” said Crawley, “and the Mason’s Hall located next door also was a concern.”

Fortunately the wind was not blowing as it had been the night before, “or we would have been in big trouble,” Crawley said.

The cause of the fire had not been determined on Monday and agents from the State Fire Marshal’s Office were on the scene much of the day.

Small said there was not a wood stove in the home and said no one could figure out what could have started the fire.

Meanwhile, the town was rallying Monday, gathering clothing and donations to help the family, Small said.

“They just lost everything,” said Rev. Mark Bruce of the Carmel Congregational Church. “All that’s left is the chimney.”

Donations can be made to the family through the Carmel Congregational Church, P.O. Box 111, Carmel 04419.

The Robinsons are currently staying with family in Carmel, Small said.