The Scarborough Dispatch Center received calls reporting a house fire at 35 Minuteman Drive, is in the Pleasant Hill neighborhood of Scarborough at 12:41 on Oct. 4. Firefighters from the Pleasant Hill and Black Point Stations arrived within six minutes of the initial calls and found heavy smoke coming from the single family home, according to the Fire Department.
Crews began an aggressive interior attack and they were able to contain the fire to the first floor kitchen area of the home, while additional firefighters searched the remainder of the 2 ½ story home for any potential victims, according to the Fire Department. All searches were cleared and no victims were found. Firefighters remained on scene for several hours opening up walls and ceilings to ensure that all visible fire was completely extinguished.
At the time of the fire, there was one occupant on the second floor and they reported that smoke alarms began sounding. They went to investigate why the alarms were sounding and they found smoke coming up the stairs. They were able to safely evacuate the second floor of the home, which required them to pass through the kitchen which was on fire, making it safely outside with their dog.
The first floor of the home suffered heavy fire damage while the remainder of the home suffered smoke and water damage.
“There is no doubt that working smoke alarms provided early notification to the occupant of this home, allowing them to safely evacuate their home this afternoon,” said Scarborough Deputy Fire Chief John Brennan. “October is National Fire Prevention Month and this incident is a reminder, yet again, of the importance of having working smoke alarms in your home,” added Brennan.
An occupant of the home and one Scarborough Firefighter were both evaluated on scene, as a precaution, but neither required transport to a hospital.
Scarborough Firefighters were assisted on the scene by firefighters from Portland, South Portland and Biddeford Fire Departments. The Old Orchard Beach Fire Department responded into Scarborough to assist the remaining Scarborough firefighters cover the Scarborough Fire Stations.
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