A fire heavily damaged a newly purchased home in Yarmouth on Thursday shortly after a Portland couple had begun moving their belongings in.

The fire started on the rear porch, spread up a wall and caused significant damage to the second floor and attic, according to Yarmouth Fire Chief Mike Robitaille.

No one was injured in the fire, and the state Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating, but the blaze does not appear suspicious, Robitaille said.

Jordan and Arielle Kellerman were in the process of moving belongings into their new home when the fire broke out around 4:45 p.m. Thursday. The couple had married recently, Robitaille said.

Jordan Kellerman had been renting an apartment in Portland and had finalized the purchase of their new home at 18 Northwood Road earlier Thursday, according to Robitaille.

“He (Kellerman) purchased the house today and he was in the process of moving in,” Robitaille said. Kellerman left the house for an hour and found it ablaze when he returned, Robitaille said.

Robitaille said the two-story home is not inhabitable. The fire caused heavy damage – estimated at about $100,000 – to the attic and second floor. The house was insured, Robitaille said.

“There were flames coming through the roof when we arrived,” the fire chief said.

More than 20 volunteer firefighters from Yarmouth responded along with 10 firefighters from Cumberland, the chief said. The Yarmouth Fire Station on North Road is located just over a mile from the Northwood Road home.

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