RUMFORD — A man found in an upstairs hallway of a burning home at 516 Virgin St. early Friday morning died at the scene, Fire Chief Chris Reed said.
A man died early Friday morning after being trapped on the second floor of his home on Virgin Street in Rumford, officials said. Edward Vidito, 57, was pronounced dead at the scene, Fire Chief Chris Reed said.
Edward Vidito, 57, lived in the house with his wife, according to Shannon Moss, spokeswoman for the Maine Department of Public Safety. His body will be examined by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta, she said.
Vidito’s wife, Penny, was able to escape with two dogs, Moss said.
Reed said the call came in at 3:52 a.m. stating a person was trapped on the second floor of the 2½-story home.
“We arrived in short order and went upstairs to try to rescue him,” Reed said. “The fire was in the bedroom and he was in the hallway. We got to him and brought him out and turned him over to Med-Care (Ambulance). He was pronounced dead at the scene.”
Reed said the fire was contained to the bedroom and a closet. But hours later, the home was reported to be ablaze again after the flames rekindled.
Just before 7 p.m., fire crews were called back to the home where they encountered heavy fire. Mutual aid from several area departments were returning to battle the flames.
A team of investigators from the Office of the State Fire Marshal is working to determine the cause of the fire that left Vidito dead, Moss said. An investigator was called back to the scene Friday night after the fire reignited.
Firefighters from Rumford, Mexico, Andover, Dixfield and Peru were on scene for about four hours. Many of them were returning later Friday night after the blaze rekindled.
Kevin Jamison, manager of the Rumford Aubuchon Hardware, has started a fundraising page for Penny Vidito at this link.
Moss said it is the fourth fire fatality this year. Gladys McGuire, 95, died in a fire at her home in Chelsea on Jan. 1; Paul Spaulding, 71, died in a fire at his home Jan. 31; and Edward Greenier, 69, died in a fire at his home Jan. 31.
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