Following a fire Saturday that caused extensive damage to a Fort Hill Road home, Gorham Fire Chief Robert Lefebvre urged homeowners burning wood to take caution.

Whipped by high winds, the three-alarm fire damaged a two-story wooden home at 297 Fort Hill Road. Lefebvre said the fire started when sparks or a log rolled out of a fire and onto the floor.

Firefighter Dean Belanger was injured battling the blaze. Lefebvre said Belanger was taken to Maine Medical Center but discharged.

“He fell through the floor,” Lefebvre said. “The floor had weakened.”

Gorham was assisted by firefighters from Westbrook, Scarborough, Windham and Standish.

Lefebvre, who was out of town Saturday, said a hydrant on Fort Hill Road supplied water to fight the fire but firefighters were hampered by the weather, “The biggest problem was the high winds,” said Lefebvre, who added no one was home and no pets were lost in the blaze.

He urged residents who burn with wood to have proper clearances around stoves and fireplaces and to dispose of ashes properly. He said ashes should be placed in a metal bucket with a cover. Before emptying the bucket outside, residents should wait to make sure there are no hot embers. He said residents should make sure chimneys are clean, and said the fire department does free inspections.

Fire damages Gorham home