Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – Officials are crediting an 11-year-old boy with alerting his family to a fire at their Chapman Road apartment during the early morning hours of Wednesday, Sept. 17. “At 3:46 a.m. Sept. 17, the Presque Isle Fire Department received a call reporting a structure fire at 47 Chapman Rd. On arrival at approximately 3:50 a.m., firefighters found heavy black smoke and fire pouring from the eves and windows on the second floor,” said Deputy Fire Chief Rich Wark, of the PIFD.
According to Wark, all four occupants were out of the building but some pets were believed to still be inside.
“The 11-year-old was sleeping and awoke to find his room on fire. He quickly got out of his room and yelled to get his little sister up and out of her room next to his, then alerted his parents who were sleeping downstairs,” said Wark.
The boy’s quick actions saved the family, said Wark.
Though short on manpower, firefighters made an aggressive attack on the fire, knocking it down in the first 15 minutes on the scene.
“The age of the house made it difficult to dig out all the hot spots,” explained Wark.
Firefighters found no evidence of working smoke detectors on the second floor of the building.
Only one minor injury was reported as the result of the fire.
“There was one minor civilian injured at the fire. He was examined on the scene by Crown Ambulance personnel and taken to The Aroostook Medical Center by his mother for a minor burn to his foot,” said Wark.
A total of 16 firefighters responded to the alarm. Wark said the Caribou Fire Department was called to provide station coverage during the incident.
“Maine Public Service responded to remove the power from the house. There were no firefighter injuries reported,” Wark said.
Firefighters reportedly cleared the scene at 6 a.m. The cause of the fire was investigated by fire officials.
“The State Fire Marshal’s Office was contacted and an investigator arrived later in the day to try to determine the origin of the fire, which started in the upstairs bedroom,” said Wark.
The owner of the building was identified as Mojave Property Management Inc. Jerry McAvaddy, the city’s code enforcement officer, visited the scene after the fire to determine if the building was structurally sound and could be repaired or not.
“Mojave Property has an office in Caribou but is headquartered in California. The building had two apartments. The upstairs unit sustained the most damage, particularly the boy’s bedroom. The rest, including the downstairs apartment, sustained smoke and water damage,” said McAvaddy.
McAvaddy indicated the home was insured and could be repaired, if the owner chose to do so.
No estimate was available on what it would cost to repair the structure.
Wark said the family planned to stay with other family members following the fire. The American Red Cross was called and was put in touch with the family.
