Updated Monday, June 29: An investigator with the state’s Fire Marshal’s Office said the fire that destroyed a mobile home early Saturday morning at 9 Sewall Street in Wilton was “believed to have been intentionally set,” said Sgt. Kenneth Grimes. Anyone who has information to help with the investigation can call 626-3870, he said.
WILTON – A double-wide vacant mobile home was destroyed by fire early Saturday morning, but the 49 fire fighters from six towns who were battling the blaze were able to save a nearby garage filled with items. The Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the blaze.
Wilton police Officer Gary Allen was out on routine overnight patrol when he smelled smoke in the downtown area. He followed his nose and found the trailer home at 9 Sewall Street, just above Main Street, on fire. Fire fighters were called at 2:26 a.m. Saturday, said Fire Chief Sonny Dunham.
When Dunham arrived at the home shortly after the call came in, the structure was “fully engulfed. Flames were coming out of the windows,” he said. Fire fighters from the towns of Wilton, Jay, East Dixfield, Farmington, Chesterville and Livermore Falls, worked to save the garage from damage and a “surround and drown” tactic was employed to extinguish the mobile home fire.
The fire was knocked down in 30 minutes and the mop up kept crews on scene until 6:15 a.m.
The home, owned by Kandi Lilley of Roxbury, has been vacant for a couple of years and wasn’t insured, Dunham said.
While the home was vacant, the garage only 20-25 feet away, “was full of stuff,” he said.
