Madison fire damages 2-story home

Nov. 16—MADISON — A quick-moving fire damaged an old, two-story Houghton Street home Saturday, drawing dozens of firefighters from area towns.

Madison fire Chief Don French said he called the Office of State Fire Marshal to the scene to help confirm the cause of the fire.

"It's not suspicious at all," French said around 2:30 p.m. at the scene. The fire was reported around 12:30 p.m. as an outside brush fire.

"I was first on the scene," he said. "When I came, there was heavy fire on the back side of the house. The whole upstairs had heavy, heavy, heavy smoke — that's why I decided to go to a second alarm."

At the scene, firefighters were climbing a ladder to the second floor, while others were throwing insulation and other items out of a one-story addition to the back of the house, which was blackened and charred on the outside. French said there was heavy smoke and water damage throughout the house, from the basement to the attic.

About 40 firefighters from Madison, Anson, Starks, Norridgewock, Athens, Waterville and Skowhegan responded to the scene. Ambulances from Redington-Fairview General Hospital and Anson-Madison-Starks arrived at the scene as well. Somerset County Sheriff's officials blocked off Houghton Street to traffic as emergency crews worked.

French said the Waterville Fire Department brought its Rapid Intervention Team, also known as RIT, in case a firefighter needed to be rescued, which did not occur.

French said no one was hurt in the fire. A neighbor said the occupants had lived in the home a long time.

The homeowner is insured, and the American Red Cross was called to help the family.

French praised the firefighters, saying, "The boys made a hell of a save. I'm so proud of my guys. Mutual aid is wonderful."

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