A Westport Island homeowner was sent to the hospital Sunday morning after a fire erupted in his modular, ranch style house.
The home’s owner, Fleming “Al” Alexander, was transported to Parkview Hospital in Brunswick after being treated for smoke inhalation. He was released the same day.
Forty firefighters from eight area departments, Wiscasset, Woolwich, Alna, Edgecomb, Westport Island, Dresden, West Bath, and Bath, responded to the fire, which was paged out at 9:36 am, Sept. 25.
Whitefield and Boothbay provided station coverage. Central Lincoln County and Wiscasset sent ambulances.
According to Wiscasset Fire Chief Rob Bickford, who headed the operation, so many firefighters were brought to the scene to replace others fatigued by the weekend’s high temperatures.
“The heat was really taking its toll,” Bickford said. “It really zaps it out of you.”
According to Bickford, the modular home suffered extensive smoke and fire damage.
Bickford estimates that 50 percent of the first floor was on fire when emergency service workers arrived.
Though an investigation is still ongoing, the fire is believed to have started in the home’s kitchen as a result of human error, Bickford said.
The Midcoast Chapter of the Red Cross was also called to the scene to provide assistance to Alexander, who was ultimately provided with funding for clothing and food.
According to Red Cross volunteer Andrew Eckman, of Bremen, who was called to the Westport fire, Alexander is currently staying with friends.
“He’s doing as well as he can be considering the circumstances,” Eckman said.
