KINGFIELD — A family escaped injury Monday morning when a garage and workshop caught fire, which spread to the adjacent house at 289 Cedar St.
“It was so fast … so fast,” Pat Tufts said. “I just didn’t believe it. We were inside and we heard a noise.”
When Tufts and her husband, Tommy, looked outside, they saw the garage and workshop burning.
The couple’s son, Michael, 23, also was home.
They were able to get the family’s two dogs out even though they didn’t want to come, Pat Tufts said.
The family cat, however, had not been found.
Kingfield fire Chief Chuck Twitchell said firefighters had walked through the house and didn’t see the cat.
The family moved into the house 30 years ago, Tommy Tufts said as he was speaking to the chief and an insurance adjuster.
A smoke detector was still going off in the house. Steam rose from the rubble of the garage and workshop, where the fire had started, according to Twitchell. The cause, however, is unknown, he said.
The fire was reported at 6:58 a.m.
Firefighters were able to knock the fire down, he said. The house received heavy smoke damage, but is still standing.
“It’s a total loss,” he said. It is insured, he added.
More than 20 firefighters from Kingfield, Strong, Phillips, Carrabassett Valley, New Vineyard, New Portland and Salem Township responded to help fight the blaze.
The family has a place to stay, Pat Tufts said.
dperry@sunjournal.com
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- A fire started in a garage and workshop and spread to a house early Monday at the home of Tommy and Pat Tufts, 289 Cedar St. in Kingfield. The cause is are unknown, but it began in the garage and workshop, Kingfield fire Chief Chuck Twitchell said.
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- A garage/workshop caught fire Monday morning and spread to the house owned by Tommy and Pat Tufts, foreground, at 289 Cedar Street in Kingfield. The Tufts family including son, Michael, were able to escape without injury. The garage/workshop and house are a total loss, Kingfield Fire Chief Chuck Twitchell said.
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