Kitchen stove starts fire

By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — Combustible materials left on a glass top stove was the cause of a Feb. 28 fire that left a Houlton family homeless.
    The home of Brad and Ammie Irish on 2 Marble St. received extensive fire damage to the kitchen area and smoke and heat damage throughout most of the two-story dwelling as a result of the fire, according to Houlton Fire Chief Milton Cone.
    Six dogs perished in the blaze.
    Firefighters were called to the Irish residence at 12:45 p.m. when Houlton Police Detective Kris Calaman noticed the smell of smoke while at Cloukey’s Auto on the Bangor Road. Calaman searched the area and found smoke coming from the eaves of the Irish residence. When he pulled into the driveway, the kitchen window exploded with fire shooting out of it, Cone said.
    Within three minutes, the first firefighters arrived on scene and quickly went to work extinguishing the blaze. Tim Lowell of the State Fire Marshalls’ Office was called in to investigate the incident, Cone said.
    “He determined that combustible materials were left on top of a stove in the kitchen and those materials ignited when no one was home,” Cone said.
    Seventeen firefighters and three pieces of equipment were dispatched to the scene. The building was insured, Cone said.
    “This is a good opportunity for us to caution people on placing objects on top of their glass-top stoves,” Cone said. “It may look like a place to set objects, but it is still a heat-producing appliance and should be avoided.”
    Donations are being sought to assist the Irish family during the transition period. According to a post on Facebook, the following items are needed: ladies size 12 medium jeans and extra large shirts; mens 36×30 jeans and extra large shirts; ladies size 18 pants and extra large shirts; girls size 14 pants and 14/16 shirts; boys size 8, 2T and 5T clothing.
    Toys for young boys would also be welcomed. All donations are to be dropped off at 60 Military St., Houlton. Cash donations can also be mailed to P.O Box 433 Houlton, ME 04730 or call 532-8685 or 538-6172.