PERU, Maine — The state fire marshal's office is investigating the cause of a garage fire in Peru Tuesday night.
The call to 833 Auburn Road came in shortly before 8:15 p.m., Peru Fire Chief Dan Carrier told NEWS CENTER Maine.
When crews arrived, flames were beginning to spread to the nearby home, and people were trying to fight the fire with fire extinguishers, according to Carrier. Crews made sure people were out of the building before closing all doors to the garage to trap the flames and prevent them from spreading beyond the garage, Carrier said. Flames eventually shot through the roof of the garage.
The first floor of the split-level home sustained some water damage but the home was otherwise unharmed, according to Carrier. The garage was destroyed by the fire.
Seven adults and five children live in the home, Carrier said. One person was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation.
Carrier said a father and his sons, their significant others, and their children all lived in the single-family home. He said the fire marshal told them they cannot live in the building until the insurance company investigates. The children are staying with family members in the meantime, he said.
Carrier said his crews put sandbags in the breezeway to prevent more water damage.
It took crews about three hours to get the flames under control. Medcare assisted the Peru Fire Department at the scene, along with fire departments from Rumford, Dixfield, Canton, and Mexico.
View more photos of the fire:
