Officials investigate Brewer fire

BREWER – Investigators from the state Fire Marshal’s Office spent Tuesday searching through the remains of an early morning fire that destroyed a 11/2-story residence at 45 Harlow St., which runs from North Main Street to Washington Street.

Owner Frank V. Wyman Jr. was not at home when a neighbor reported flames were coming out of the windows of the house about 12:30 a.m., according to Assistant Fire Chief Christopher Dore.

“The house was fully engaged when we got there,” he said Tuesday. “Every window and every door had fire coming out of it.”

Dore said that other than a couple of pieces of vinyl siding that melted off the side of a neighbor’s house, none of the surrounding homes was damaged.

The assistant chief said that although firefighters had the blaze under control in an hour, the extremely low temperatures caused water to freeze when it hit the ground and made walking very slippery.

“It also made for some cold firemen,” Dore added, “but the Dunkin’ Donuts on Main Street in Bangor sent over some coffee and hot chocolate. We really appreciated that.”

The last major residential fire in the city occurred on Brewer Street in September and left six people homeless.