TEMPLE – Firefighters from six towns responded to a report of a “glow in the sky” to find a one-floor residence on fire Tuesday morning. The cause of the blaze had not been determined as of noon today.
According to Fire Chief David True, firefighters were toned to 5 Forest Hill at 2 a.m. Tuesday morning after a neighbor reported seeing a glow in the sky. Forest Hill Road is a short, dead-end road off of Varnum Pond Road.
True said that he was the first to arrive, only to find the building completely engulfed in flames. Responding to the blaze along with Temple were crews from five other mutual aid towns: Chesterville, Farmington, New Sharon, Strong and Wilton. Cold temperatures complicated firefighting efforts, True said.
The residence, owned by Chris Wahlstrom, was completely destroyed. Wahlstrom was not home at the time of the fire, and there were no people or animals inside the building, True said.
True said that the cause of the blaze remains unknown. He intends to go back to the scene with an investigator from the state Fire Marshal’s Office later today.
Sorry for the loss. This is the worst winter I have ever seen for structure fires. One or more at least every day in Maine