One dead in fire that razes mobile home in Jonesboro

JONESBORO – A nighttime fire destroyed a mobile home in this eastern Maine town, killing one person, authorities said Friday.

The victim was believed to be John Hughes Jr., 49, who was the lone occupant of the dwelling that burned to the ground, according to Stephen McCausland, Maine Department of Public Safety spokesman.

There was no indication of foul play, he said.

The home was located along a dirt road off the Harls Camp Road, where a passer-by spotted the fire around midnight. Firefighters arrived to find the structure in flames.

The victim’s body, which was burned beyond recognition, was found in a bedroom. Investigators were seeking help from the State Medical Examiner’s Office to establish positive identification, McCausland said.

A gun was found near the body, and as a result a state police detective was called in to assist.

Hughes “owned a number of guns, and there’s no way to tell this is his. … We suspect this may have been one of them,” McCausland said.

Three investigators from the State Fire Marshal’s Office were at the scene trying to pinpoint the cause of the blaze, but McCausland said that may be difficult because of the extent of the destruction.

Hughes had 100 bales of hay in the trailer, no running water, no electricity and only a kerosene heater to keep warm, McCausland said.

“That certainly would have accelerated the flames,” the spokesman said about the hay.

Hughes kept nine dogs on the property and three horses at another location “down the road,” McCausland said.

The fire is not considered suspicious.

The body has been sent to the Medical Examiner’s Office in Augusta for positive identification and to confirm cause of death, McCausland said. These tasks are not expected to be performed until the beginning of next week, he said.