LEE – An electrical fire left a family homeless Thursday night, despite the efforts of three fire departments and 45 firefighters.

Dean Knights Jr. called the Lee Fire Department at about 8:30 p.m. to report he had experienced an electrical fire that was under control, but wanted officials to check out the scene, said Lee fire Chief Jay Crocker.

After spotting the initial fire, Knights tore the burning insulation from the wall and threw it outside. Believing the fire had been extinguished, he left the doors and windows of the house open to air out the smoke while he went to a neighbor’s house to call officials and tell everyone everything was fine.

“I was at our neighbors, and when I looked up at the house it was just engulfed,” Knights said. “I don’t think this has actually snapped in for any of us.”

Knights, Violet Burrill and their three children had been living in the home. Their daughter, Jessica Burrill, 17, and oldest son, Douglas Burrill, 14, were at their uncle’s home after the family had Thanksgiving dinner elsewhere. Violet Burrill was at work in Millinocket where she is a certified nurse’s aide, when the fire started. Knights and his youngest son, David, 7, had been at the home preparing for a wheelchair ramp that was going to be set up for the disabled Knights.

The 38-year-old man has a heart condition, diabetes, onsetting blindness and a respiratory problem. He spends most of his time in a wheelchair and hooked up to an oxygen tank. He recently had been released from the hospital where he had been treated for gangrene caused by an infection in a diabetes-related ulcer on his foot.

But on Thursday night he put his personal problems aside as he attempted to save the family’s cat and dog.

“I had to go back in to get the idiots. I like animals more than most people, and I can’t watch an animal burn,” Knights said. “I don’t even know the name of my daughter’s cat. … I went back in there like an idiot with a respiratory problem to get them, though. Then [paramedics] took me off to the hospital.”

Knights dragged both of the animals out of the building and into his vehicle. The dog, a two-year-old mixed German shepherd name Lady, stayed in the vehicle, but the cat left safety and ran back into the quickly disintegrating house. Knights chased down the animal again before breathing difficulty sent him to the hospital for treatment.

His wheelchair and oxygen tank were destroyed in the fire with the rest of the family’s possessions. Local medical companies and the Red Cross responded quickly, Knights said, and provided him with the medical supplies he needs and the family with clothing, food and shelter. The Red Cross has housed the family at a motel in Lincoln until Monday when the family’s home insurance company opens up after the holiday break.

Knights recently installed a new furnace in the home, and he believes that is where the fire started.

“I don’t think the wiring was big enough for the load and it shorted out,” said Knights. “It was an old house with two or three rooms on one circuit.”

The family had been living in the two-story Skunk Hill Road residence for the previous three years. They had been remodeling the building throughout the previous years, said Knights.

Firefighters remained on the scene until 1:15 a.m. Friday and returned later to prevent any possible flare-ups.

“They weren’t able to save anything,” Crocker said. “The home was completely gutted. There’s just a frame standing now.”

No one was injured in the blaze.

Those wishing to aid the family can contact the Red Cross or send items directly to Knights at P.O. Box 232, Lee 04455.

“I would really like to say ‘thanks a million’ to the firefighters and to the Penobscot Valley Hospital,” said Knights. “There’s just something that pulls people together whenever something bad happens.”