BOWDOIN

A home on Bing Moore Road in Bowdoin was destroyed by fire early Monday morning.

The fire was reported by a neighbor at 3:35 a.m. Monday. Bowdoin Deputy Fire Chief Jerry Brown was first to arrive at the single wide mobile home at 48 Bing Moore Road.

The flames were approximately 60 to 80 feet high and the structure was completely engulfed at that point, Brown said. The home had already collapsed. There wasn’t much firefighters could do other than attack the fire from the exterior and keep it from spreading to the woods. 

He said the main challenge was getting water to the scene and a lack of manpower.

The home was vacant and belongs to Russell Wing, who lives on Main Street. 

Bowdoin Fire Chief Tom Garrepy said the cause of the fire is under investigation and expected an investigator with the state fire marshal’s office would be on scene Tuesday. Due to the extent of the damage it may not be possible to determine the cause.

Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Topsham, Sabattus and Lisbon fire departments and Topsham Rescue responded to the fire.

Bowdoin’s road commissioner brought an excavator to the site to dig through the smoldering debris so firefighters could make sure the fire was completely extinguished.

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