Fire officials: Cause of Lebanon fire undetermined

Smoke continues to billow from rear sections of the house as a light rain fell late Friday morning. (Lebanon Voice/Harrison Thorp photos)

LEBANON - What exactly caused a fire to break out Friday that heavily damaged a farmhouse and destroyed its attached barn may never be determined, but state Fire Marshal's Office investigators say there was nothing suspicious in the blaze's origins.

The official cause is "undetermined," due to "the total destruction from the fire," said investigator Sgt. Joel Davis late Friday afternoon.

Davis said investigators found that the blaze at 491 West Lebanon Road began in the barn area and spread to the adjoining farmhouse.

According to Lebanon Deputy Fire Chief Eric Neubert, the call came in a little after midnight for a barn on fire at 491 West Lebanon Road, just a short distance from Five Corners.

When crews arrived the barn was already "down to the ground," said Neubert, and fire had stretched to the back of the main house.

Heavy damage can be seen in the middle and front parts of the home as well as the rear.

Lebanon Fire and mutual aid units used tankers to supply water to fight the blaze, which took about a half hour to bring under control. Officials at one point said the blaze had gone to five alarms, but it was just four.

Neubert characterized the house, itself, as being "heavily damaged."

The homeowners' son, Matthew Sanborn, told WGME-TV his father and stepmother woke up to the smell of smoke and three people who were inside at the time, including his nephew, made it out safely. The family dogs also were OK.

He said there was significant damage to the home. He said his father and stepmother just moved to Maine from Texas a few months ago.

The man and woman who lived at the house both said they were unable to give interviews late Friday morning.

The house appeared uninhabitable, but Davis said it was up to the insurance companies to determine that.

The house was apparently being rented, and is owned by a man who lives in San Diego, Calif.

Mutual aid from Milton, Rochester, Wakefield, N.H., Berwick, North Berwick, South Berwick, Somersworth, N.H., Shapleigh and Alfred, all helped in putting out the blaze.