Fire strikes York Beach home under construction. Blow torch identified as source.
YORK, Maine — A home undergoing a third-story addition near Long Sands Beach caught fire Monday morning, accidentally caused by flames from a blow torch, a fire official said.
Roofers were working on the home at 1 Carlton St. with rubber cement and a small torch, according to York Village Fire Chief Chris Balentine, when a heavy wind caused the flame to go out of control. He estimated the wind gust was between 25-30 mph.
“A wind came up, the torch got too hot,” Balentine said. “The rest is history.”
Workers were evacuated safely, and no one was injured in the fire, which was reported shortly after 10 a.m., Balentine said. The blaze rose to a second alarm with multiple departments responding and was knocked down within an hour with the use of multiple hand lines, ladder pipes and deck guns, he said.
The home, originally built in 1950 according to town records, was two stories before the owners recently decided to add a third floor, according to Balentine. He said they were hoping to move in within a month and a half to the cottage, just a short walk from the beach.
“That probably won’t happen,” Balentine said.
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He said significant fire damage was caused to the top floor addition, and water damage was expected in the first and second floors. He estimated the damage was around $250,000.
“That’s a preliminary estimate,” Balentine said. “I’m usually low. I’m not a builder.”
York Village Fire Department personnel were assisted by the York Beach Fire Department and crews from Eliot, Kittery, South Berwick, Ogunquit, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and New Castle, New Hampshire.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: York Beach ME fire: Home was under construction near Long Sands Beach
