Blaze claims Mapleton home
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
MAPLETON — A family of six, including three generations, is homeless following an early-morning fire Valentine’s Day that destroyed their Parsons Road home.
“At 12:06 a.m. on Feb. 14 the Mapleton, Castle Hill and Chapman Fire Department received a call for a structure fire with people trapped inside. Crews arrived on scene in seven minutes from the time of the alert,” said Fire Chief Rich Wark.
The home belonged to Larry and Donna Easler and was located at 1358 Parsons Road in Mapleton. The family consisted of the Easlers, their children and two grandparents.
Wark said on arrival all occupants were out and the structure was fully involved.
“The structure had been modified and added onto making it difficult to get at the fire. There were five people at the residence at the time of the fire and several pets. Crews were able to make a defensive attack with foam and knock the fire down, they then spent the next four hours digging out and extinguishing hot spots,” said the fire chief.
Officials believe the cause of the fire was the home’s heating source.
“Due to information received from the occupants, the cause was determined to be the woodstove they were using to heat the home. One of the occupants had gone out to let the dogs out for the last time for the night and when they came back in they noticed a glow around the stovepipe coming off the woodstove. Fire quickly broke out. They alerted the rest of the occupants and called 9-1-1,” said Wark.
The department received mutual aid from the Presque Isle Fire Department with a tanker and a crew responding to the scene. A crew from the Washburn Fire Department covered the station with a tanker and a crew as well. Crown Ambulance and Maine Public Service also provided assistance.
“There were no civilian or fire department injuries. A total of 31 firefighters worked at the scene and covered the station until 5 a.m.,” he said.
Wark said the family and their pets were lucky to get out of the burning structure.
“The family lost everything and only got out with the clothes on their backs. They had no insurance on the structure or the contents. The Red Cross provided temporary housing for the family,” said Wark.
Anyone wishing to make donations can contact the Red Cross. A fund-raising account has also been set up for the family at The Bank of Maine, 9 Dyer St. in Presque Isle. All funds will be used to help the family with expenses, such as clothing, health care needs and food.
