CARTHAGE — Fire gutted the vacant camp of Dan and Linda Hallock early Friday afternoon on Webb River Acres Road. The Hallocks live in Dixfield.
The cause has yet to be determined, but fire investigators with the State Fire Marshal’s Office will return on either Saturday or Monday to continue working on the case, Carthage fire Chief Kenneth Flagg said on scene.
Flagg said that at about 1:30 p.m. he was driving by and saw smoke coming out of the single-story building’s eaves at 8 Webb River Acres Road and headed for the fire station to get a firetruck.
Confusion then ensued over the exact location, Dixfield fire Chief Scott Dennett said on scene.
A Carthage resident said he called 911 to report the fire and gave the dispatcher specific instructions twice, and then listened in disbelief when a dispatcher told responders it was at Webb River Falls instead of the Webb River Acres Road.
Webb River Falls is on Route 2 in Dixfield.
Weld and Carthage firefighters were sent first. Then at 1:45 p.m., Dixfield and Med-Care Ambulance were toned to Webb River Acres.
Once firefighters began arriving, some had to jump into the river to place one end of a large hose from which to pump water into the Weld firetruck to use on the fire.
Flagg said fire broke through the roof about an hour after the initial call to firefighters. A dense black column of smoke towered over the burning camp and could be seen for miles as heavy fire erupted the length of the building.
A Central Maine Power crew had to remove a wire providing electricity to the camp.
Flagg said no one was inside at the time of the fire and there were no injuries.
A “For Sale” sign mounted high on a tree outside the camp listed the price as $58,000. Carthage First Selectman Steve Brown who lives on the road, said he believes the price is for the land, the camp, a new septic system, and the camp’s close proximity to the river.
The town has the camp alone assessed at $21,000, Brown said.
He said the camp was built in 1963 and was owned for many years by Helen Hallock LeMay.
Neither Brown nor Flagg knew if the camp is insured.
View 8 Webb River Acres Rd in a larger map
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- While fire erupts from near the rear of Dan and Linda Hallock’s camp on Friday afternoon at 8 Webb River Acres Road in Carthage, Weld firefighters extinguish flames in the center section.
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- Fire rages through Dan and Linda Hallock’s camp on Friday afternoon at 8 Webb River Acres Road in Carthage while Weld firefighters at right set up a hose in the river from which to get water.
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- Watching fellow firefighters bring a hose forward, Dixfield fire Capt. Jason Hyde pauses while removing burning debris blocking access to the burning camp of Dan and Linda Hallock on Friday afternoon at 8 Webb River Acres Road in Carthage. At left is Dixfield fire Capt. Scott Dennett.
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- A junior firefighter, right, and a Med-Care Ambulance crewman Rusty Daley watch firefighters from Carthage, Weld and Dixfield knock down flames that gutted the camp of Dan and Linda Hallock on Friday afternoon at 8 Webb River Acres Road in Carthage.
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- Flames shoot out over a wall while firefighters from Weld, Carthage and Dixfield attack the stubborn fire from the other side on Friday at Dan and Linda Hallock’s camp at 8 Webb River Acres Road in Carthage.
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- Dixfield fire Chief Scott Dennett, left, watches on Friday afternoon as Dixfield fire Capt. Jason Hyde removes debris to enable a hose team to get at flames gutting the camp of Dan and Linda Hallock at 8 Webb River Acres in Carthage.
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- Weld firefighters knock down flames in the eaves of Dan and Linda Hallock’s camp on Friday afternoon in Carthage while Dixfield firefighters at left attack the fire from the rear.
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- Thick black smoke pours out of Dan and Linda Hallock’s camp at 8 Webb River Acres Road on Friday afternoon in Carthage as firefighters from Carthage, Dixfield and Weld attack the fire from the outside. The plume of smoke could be seen for miles.
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