Minors Playing With Matches Blamed in Maine Blaze

PORTSMOUTH, Maine -- Officials blame "outside horseplay" for a two-alarm structure fire destroying a maintenance shed at Beechstone Apartments Sunday evening.

After preliminary investigations reveal three juveniles were responsible for the blaze.

While the investigation is ongoing, Assistant Fire Chief Steve Achilles said the fire appeared to be accidentally set when three children, who have now been identified by police, were playing with matches behind the roughly 2,000 square foot shed.

Two diesel fuel tanks and a number of propane tanks were stored there.

Firefighters responded to a 6:45 p.m. report of a building on fire on the Beechstone Apartments property quickly rising to a two-alarm call due to the need for manpower.

John Huff/Democrat Photos

Achilles said additional units and all on-duty Portsmouth units were called to the scene just before 7 p.m. to assist with knocking down the flames. The first crews identified heavy fire in the building upon arrival.

The shed is set back from any apartment buildings and there were no injuries during the incident.

Achilles said if the structure was even 100 yards closer to residential buildings, there could have been a potential explosion.

He said with any situation like this the first thing firefighters do is canvas the area for "exposures," any other materials that could ignite and burn.

The center of the 50 feet by 40 feet shed completely collapsed due to the intense heat.

Keith Roediger, investigator from the state fire marshals office was on scene to conduct an investigation with the fire department.

The Portsmouth Police Department handled interviewing the identified juvenile suspects.

Achilles said it was important the department worked with these agencies to fully investigate the fire.

He also said he would meet with the management of Beechstone to assess the damage, but was unsure at this time what the consequences would be for the individuals responsible for setting the blaze.

That answer, he said, would come from an effort between the police and fire departments.

"At this point we don't think it was intentional to set the building on fire," he said.

Crews continued to battle hot spots and extinguish flames as well as coat the inside of the structure with foam because of the petroleum units.

In addition to Portsmouth, fire departments from Greenland, Rye, Hampton, Newcastle, Kittery, Exeter, Dover, North Hampton assisted, as well as a Newington ambulance. The Pease Fire Department also provided station coverage.

Copyright 2012 - Foster's Daily Democrat, Dover, N.H.

McClatchy-Tribune News Service