By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
MASARDIS, Maine — The loss of any business affects the community it serves, but when it’s a small-town general store, the loss can be devastating. That’s the case following a fire the evening of Jan. 1 that claimed the Masardis Trading Post, located on Route 11 — affectionately referred to by some on Facebook as “the Masardis Walmart.”
According to Fire Chief Nelson Craig, the fire was called in around 8:20 p.m.
“The business/building was owned by Tim Gagnon and Tory Guito, who weren’t home at the time of the fire. They lived in an apartment above the store. There were no injuries but the couple lost their cat in the fire,” said Craig. “They’d just left the house when the fire broke out.”
Craig said the structure was fully involved when firefighters arrived.
“I think the property was insured. It’s a total loss,” said Craig, noting officials with the Fire Marshal’s Office were on site last week trying to determine the cause.
Masardis/Oxbow Fire Department received mutual aid from the Ashland Fire Department.
“We had eight firefighters from Masardis and another 10 from Ashland. We were also assisted at the scene by a crew from Ashland Ambulance Service, with traffic control provided by Maine State Police and the Ashland Police Department,” Craig said. “Crews were on site doing cleanup until about 12:30 a.m. Jan. 2.”
Firefighters returned later in the day to address a flareup.
“It’s sad to see these old stores with squeaky floors, old steps up and down, big windows and dark wood disappearing. They did a great job of making it an unofficial community hub,” said Amanda Barker, a forest ranger who frequented the store both on and off duty.
“Tim and Tory have been tremendous to us at the Maine Forest Service. Working wildland firefighters are usually a ravenous group and Tory’s gotten up at 3 a.m. days in a row to make our fire crews the most amazing meat breakfast sandwiches you’ve ever seen — sent whole trays of food for our crews spending the night in the North Maine Woods on fires,” said Barker.
Barker said Guito helped make sure that crews were well fed.
“They always had hot coffee, great pastries, awesome sandwiches. They’re good people. Loss of the Trading Post is going to be a huge loss to the town of Masardis, as well as to the Maine Forest Service. We sincerely hope they rebuild,” said Barker.
Barker said she’s heard talk of a fundraiser.
“Town officials are thinking of doing some sort of fundraiser for them,” she said.
The weather that night wasn’t fit for man or beast, according to Barker.
“The temperature down next to the Aroostook River — where the Trading Post was located — was negative 38 degrees during the time of the fire,” said Barker.
On Jan. 3, the Masardis Pentecostal Church Facebook page had the following posted: “Recently, two wonderful people lost their home, business and everything they owned, including their family pet, in the late-night fire of the Masardis Trading Post. If you would like to send donations of money or other items, you can send them to our church at: Masardis Pentecostal Church, 1306 Garfield Rd., Masardis, ME 04732, earmarked ‘Trading Post.’ You can also call us at 435-6983 for more information.”
