Two families have been temporarily displaced by a fire in Bridgewater that damaged a home and destroyed a nearby shop early Monday evening.

Perfoto/ThinkStock
Perfoto/ThinkStock
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Shortly before 5 p.m., the Bridgewater Fire Department responded to a shop fire at the end of the Montieth Road near the Canadian border, according to Public Information Officer Matthew Powers. Due to the remote location, mutual aid was immediately requested from the Monticello Fire Department.

While in route, the thick black smoke rising into the sky prompted Bridgewater Fire Chief Troy Bradstreet to call for additional water and crew resources from the Mars Hill Fire Department. Dispatchers from the Aroostook County Sheriff's Office were able to relay to the fire crews that flames were starting to penetrate the house.

An aggressive initial attack was able to keep the fire from destroying a house several feet from the shop, Powers said. Fire crews remained on scene until close to 8 p.m. No one was injured in the blaze. The shop was a total loss.

Powers said the fire started from mechanical maintenance activities that were being performed on the home owner's equipment.

While damage was relatively minor to the house, the electricity has been disabled which has temporarily displaced the family as well as another family that shares the same well. In all, eight people were displaced by the fire, and the American Red Cross has been in contact with the two families.

Early notification to the 911 system and coordinated efforts between fire crews is being credited with saving the home. The buildings were insured.

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