MAPLETON - A fire that reportedly started near a hot water heater on Wednesday destroyed the Archer Street home of Melvin and Danna Johnson.Danna Johnson, no age available, was treated for smoke inhalation and released from The Aroostook Medical Center in Presque Isle. She was taken there by Crown Ambulance.
At one point, exploding ammunition stored in the home threatened firefighters.
At about 11 a.m., smoke billowed from the roof and rear of the building, and fire roiled through the front eve of the two-story, wood-frame building, about two-tenths of a mile from Route 163.
Firefighters from Mapleton, Presque Isle, Ashland and Washburn fought the fire at both ends of the home. Two firefighters poured water into the front of the building from a second-floor flat area of the roof.
Several tankers trucked water to the fire from a mill pond off Tea Kettle Stream, about a mile away.
Mapleton Fire Chief Richard Wark said flames were shooting from the building when firefighters arrived at the scene shortly after the 9:10 a.m. call. About 30 to 35 firefighters were at the scene until nearly 1:30 p.m.
Wark said Melvin Johnson attempted to put out the fire himself with a fire extinguisher before leaving the home with the family dog.
The hot water heater was in a separate room at the rear of the small home.
"The first team [of firefighters] into the home were making good headway until ammunition started going off," Wark said. "He had a lot of ammunition in the home, along with a collection of guns.
"They had to leave the building because it was dangerous," he said.
Wark did not have an estimate of damage. He said the insured home was destroyed.
According to a clerk at the town office, the valuation of the home, for property tax calculations, was listed at $17,200 at 90 percent assessment.
The Maine Department of Environmental Protection was at the scene after a kerosene tank fell over and spilled its contents. The spill was mopped up.
There were no injuries to the firefighters.
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