Landmark country farmhouse, barn a total loss in mammoth Lebanon blaze

Photo shows the entire structure at 7 Heath Road fully involved during Saturday blaze. (Facebook photo)

LEBANON, Maine - A massive house fire in Lebanon Saturday afternoon left an old country farmhouse and barn in ruins, Lebanon's fire chief said today.

The blaze spawned several minor brush fires around the fire scene and left several Lebanon firefighters with minor injuries.

Lebanon Fire and EMS Chief Kurk Flynn said the fire at 7 Heath Road toned at 3:48 p.m. and drew firefighters from some 30 departments as far north as Ossipee, N.H., and York Harbor, Maine.

He said early responders like Lebanon came upon the scene to find the attached antique barn fully involved in flame with thick brown smoke coming from the main residence.

"I was worried that one of the residents might still be inside the main house, so I sent a couple of firefighters inside with a hose to wet it down," Flynn said. "When they opened the door it went flash from heavy smoke to extreme heat and they had to get out."

This L-shaped country farmhouse and barn were destroyed in Saturday fire. (Courtesy)

He said luckily both residents who live there had already gotten out, however a kitten remains missing.

The landmark L-shaped country farmhouse and barn formerly sat at the corner of Heath and Depot roads just kitty corner to Baker's Grant Road.

Flynn said he's confident the fire began somewhere in the center area of the barn. He said he's requested the state fire marshal to help with the investigations, but is certain the blaze is not suspicious.

He said mutual aid was vital in fighting the blaze including some 15 tankers that showed up to shuttle water from four separate watering points situated on Baker's Grant, Depot and Heath roads as well as a dry hydrant near Town Hall on Upper Guinea.

He said the family lost everything including some 10 vehicles that were stored in the barn including a 1966 Camaro, bulldozer, dump truck and several other vehicles as well.

The four firefighters who were injured were all from Lebanon, including two who suffered burns, one who injured their knee and another who suffered heat exhaustion.

He said the fire got his complete attention when he heard an explosion (likely a propane tank exploding) and ducked behind his command vehicle to avoid getting struck by debris.

"The intensity of this fire was incredible," Flynn said. "My command post was on the other side of the road, and it was hot. This was probably the second- or third-toughest fire of my 38-year career, and I just want to thank all the mutual aid departments who performed so admirably."

"From Pease AFB to York Beach, to Ossipee to Frisbie medics and Milton Rescue, the mutual aid was incredible," he added. "The teamwork was top notch."

He said the Lebanon community had already raised some $6,000 to aid the family.

Flynn said his firefighters today are utterly exhausted having just left the scene around 2 a.m.