A Topsham woman lost her home in a fire Wednesday night but made it out safely with her cat.

Topsham firefighters were called to the mobile home fire at 29 West Merrill Road at 9:29 p.m. The home is owned by Cheryl Carlton, who was able to get out of the home with her cat.

The fire had spread to half the home when crews arrived, according to Topsham Fire Chief Brian Stockdale.

“We’re out of the hydrant district so water supply is always an issue, but they did well. Lisbon came quick as well as our engines and we were able to get a good knock down fairly quickly,” Stockdale said. 

He called for all hands drawing everyone within Topsham Fire Department and tankers came from Lisbon, Bowdoin, Bowdoinham and Brunswick to make sure there was enough water supply. There was also a dry hydrant in a pond down the road where trucks filled up.

Stockdale said the mobile home was permanently based with a brick bottom in place instead of skirting, and had a room added on. Firefighters had to hammer out some of the bricks to get to the fire that got under the home. 

Stockdale believes the fire started in the stove area on the street side of the home. The fire was knocked down quickly right off the bat, and it was probably another 20 minutes before firefighters made it into some of the more challenging areas to snuff out the remaining fire. 

Mobile home fires travel fast, Stockdale said. Half of the structure is gone, and there is heat and smoke damage throughout the rest of the home. 

The fire is still under investigation but it is not considered suspicious. The state fire marshal’s office was notified Wednesday night and an investigator was expected to respond Thursday morning.

Stockdale said the local American Red Cross chapter was contacted but Carlton said she has a place to stay for the night.

dmoore@timesrecord.com