An explosion in Bridgton on Wednesday sparked a fire that destroyed a home, injured its five residents, and hurt a firefighter responding to extinguish the blaze.
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At approximately 3:30 p.m., the Bridgton Fire Department responded with assistance from neighboring fire departments to a residential fire on Dyvonne Terrace after receiving reports of an explosion.
Firefighters arrived to find five people at the home injured. They were transported to area hospitals for evaluation.
Four sustained minor injuries while the fifth was seriously injured and transported by LifeFlight to Maine Medical Center in Portland for treatment.
A witness speaking with WGME said that she heard an explosion and called 911, and that later her father helped hold one of the victims in water because her legs were on fire.
She also said that the residents had moved into the home under a month before the tragic fire.
One firefighter sustained minor injuries at the scene, but he was treated at the scene and not hospitalized.
The Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office responded to investigate the fire and determined that it likely started after a propane leak inside the house was accidentally ignited.
The home was under construction at the time of the explosion and is considered a complete loss.
The investigation remains ongoing.
