BOWDOIN

A fire destroyed a mobile home in Bowdoin and sent a man to the hospital with smoke inhalation Thursday afternoon.

The fire at 1156 Augusta Road, on Route 201, was reported at 2:49 p.m. and drew a response from multiple fire departments. Though the fire was knocked down within 15 to 20 minutes, firefighters had to do a significant amount of work to make sure the fire and all hots spots were completely out within the mobile home, which was left largely gutted.

Bowdoinham Fire Chief Arthur Frizzle said one end of the mobile home was fully involved when firefighters arrived. The man who lives in the home told firefighters he had an electric heater in the bathroom on the end of the home where the fire broke out. Investigators with the state fire marshal’s office responded to try to confirm a cause.   

According to Frizzle, Bowdoin Fire Department had responded to the residence in the past week or so for a furnace malfunction.

James Norman lives in the mobile home and Frizzle said initially attempted to fight the fire himself a few minutes before calling 911. He was trying to rescue his cats and ingested quite a bit of smoke.

Frizzle said Norman refused assistance at first, but once crews had the fire under control, Norman was transported to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston for smoke inhalation. Frizzle didn’t know the fate of the cats.

The time of day the fire was reported was a challenge because it can be difficult to gather manpower, as well as the rural location. Frizzle said once Topsham Fire Department arrived there were enough firefighters on scene to lay roughly 2,200 feet of hose from the nearest hydrant to the fire, rather than shuttling the water in by tanker truck.

Frizzle said there may be some salvageable content but he believes the home is a total loss. The American Red Cross responded to assist the homeowner.

There was a nearby mobile home which firefighters kept the fire from spreading to. A firefighter removed a dog from that home to be safe. Route 201 was also closed during the fire.

Responding fire departments included Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Richmond, Topsham, Litchfield, Lisbon, Sabattus, West Gardiner and Pittston.

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