BRUNSWICK

Northbound Route 1 traffic was turned around just beyond Cook’s Corner Sunday evening as firefighters squelched a fire that destroyed a vacant home before spreading to woods and brush.

The fire was reported shortly after 5 p.m. between Route 1 and the Hardings Plant.

The very old and dilapidated abandoned home is located about 10 feet off Route 1, according to Brunswick Fire Chief Ken Brillant. The house was engulfed with fire and by time crews arrived, the roughly 20-foot-by-20-foot two story structure was already falling into the basement. 

The fire then spread to the surrounding woods that had grown up around the house. Brillant said the wind was blowing just enough to push the fire down the power lines, igniting brush. There is no road to the house so fire trucks parked along Route 1, which was shut down as a safety measure. From there it was easier to get water to the fire scene. There were four brush trucks on scene as well and Brillant said no other homes or property were in danger. 

Brillant said Sunday he doesn’t know who owned the building. There is no power to the house, which was abandoned and falling apart, he said. The fire is considered suspicious and under investigation by Brunswick fire and police departments and the state fire marshal’s office. 

Firefighters and investigators had all left the scene by around 7:15 p.m. Brunswick, West Bath, Bath and Topsham fire departments responded to the fire while Freeport Fire Department provided station coverage. 

dmoore@timesrecord.com