A fire caused heavy damage to a home on 309 West Alna Road in Wiscasset, Dec. 31 before the flames were extinguished by area firefighters.
The fire damaged half the home before being put out, Wiscasset Fire Chief Rob Bickford said.
According to Bickford, investigators on scene are “fairly confident” the fire started a result of an electrical malfunction. The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The home consisted of two wings, the original farmhouse and a new addition attached to the western side of the building. The fire occurred in the newer portion of the house and is believed to have started in the living room.
No injuries were reported as a result of the fire. Keith Hunter, the homeowner, and his family were not at home at the time the fire broke out.
The fire was first reported by Hunter’s brother, who was staying at a neighboring home.
Keith Hunter was provided assistance by the Mid-Coast Chapter of the American Red Cross and is currently staying with friends. His children are staying with their mother.
According to Bickford, firefighters were quickly able to gain control over the fire and were able to complete their work within a couple of hours.
“We knocked it down pretty quick,” Bickford said. “Everyone did really well.”
Bickford was not present at the scene. Assistant Fire Chief John Merry served as Incident Commander in Bickford’s absence.
Firefighters from Alna, Dresden, Edgecomb, Newcastle, Woolwich, and Westport Island assisted Wiscasset at the scene along with Wiscasset EMS and Wiscasset Police.
