Fire investigators begin probe in Milton Mills blaze

Pieces of the metal roof lie strewn about the back yard as smoke rises from a hot spot today.

MILTON MILLS - An investigator from the state Fire Marshal’s office said today it’s too early in its investigation to speculate on what started a fire that destroyed a vacant Milton Mills home on Thursday night.

Milton Fire and Rescue Chief Nick Marique said the call came in around 8:45 and when fire crews got to the house at 41 Willey Road about eight minutes later the barn was totally in flames.

“When we got here the barn was fully involved, and it was extending into the main house,” Marique said today as he kept a careful eye on hot spots emitting an acrid, gray smoke from debris in back of the house.

The five-alarm fire drew firefighters from 10 surrounding communities, Marique said, and resulted in one firefighter being transported to Frisbie Memorial Hospital. Marique said the firefighter’s injury was not believed to be life-threatening.

Fire investigator Tom Riley today surveys some of the debris left from last night's fire at 41 Willey Road in Milton Mills. (Harrison Thorp photos)

 A neighbor said there had been a loud clap of thunder a few minutes before she heard the sirens, leading to conjecture that a lightning strike had started the blaze, but Riley said a fire caused by a lightning strike is not always easily discernible and it was far too early to speculate what might have been the culprit.Fire Investigator Tom Riley said today he was awaiting notification from the bank before beginning the task of sifting through the rubble to determine a cause.

“The investigation is just now beginning,” he said.

Severe thunderstorms shook the area yesterday, and are also suspected in a house fire on Cemetery Road in Berwick, Maine.