Milford fire cause unlikely to be found

MILFORD – The cause of a fire that killed two brothers and destroyed the trailer in which they were living likely never will be determined, according to officials at the State Fire Marshal’s Office.

“There are several accidental causes that we can’t rule out,” Senior Fire Investigator Scott Richardson said Monday. “We can’t see anything that would indicate anything other than an accidental cause.”

The fire could have been caused by candles that were present in the mobile home, a cigarette or from the electrical system, which was in need of repair, Sgt. Joel Davis of the fire marshal’s office said.

Brothers Robert “Bobby” L. Spencer Jr., 57, and David Spencer, 56, died Sunday morning when their home at the Riverside Pines Mobile Home Park was destroyed by fire.

The two men died of smoke inhalation, according to Davis.

Robert Spencer was a U.S. Army veteran who served in the Vietnam War. He was awarded a Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.

A relative who lives nearby heard and saw the early morning blaze and after calling 911 tried unsuccessfully to alert the two men.

State fire officials continued their investigation Monday and conducted follow-up interviews with witnesses.

“No smoke detectors were reported, but the fire was to a point where we don’t know, and we may never know [if there were smoke detectors in the building],” Richardson said. “They could have been destroyed by the fire.”

He did not know whether the trailer or other items destroyed by the fire were insured.

A recreational vehicle near the rear of the trailer also was destroyed in the fire, and a GMC truck parked by the front door was damaged by the flames.

Firefighters from Old Town Fire Department assisted Milford crews with the blaze.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.