
TURNER — A man died in a fire at his home at 32 Snell Hill Road late Friday afternoon and investigators are looking into the cause.
According to online records, the house was owned by 69-year-old Daniel Chabot. Fire officials said Chabot died in the fire in spite of efforts by neighbors and passers-by to pull him out of the burning home.
A woman who also lives in the home was not hurt. It remained unclear whether she was inside when the fire started or if she showed up moments later.
The cause of the fire was being investigated by the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
Turner Fire Chief Rodney Guptill said the fire was contained to two rooms, Chabot’s bedroom and a bathroom.
“There were a lot of people running around and bystanders trying to get into the house,” he said. “It was pretty hectic for the first few minutes there.”
Fire crews from several towns were called about 5:30 p.m. for a report of a house fire and a man trapped inside. Roughly half an hour after the fire began, a witness reported seeing a body being pulled from the back of the small, one-story home.
Firefighters from Turner were joined by crews from Greene, Leeds, Livermore, Buckfield, Auburn and other towns.
In 2010, Chabot was one of a group of Snell Hill Road homeowners who opposed the construction of a Hannaford supermarket near their property. Their efforts failed and construction began on the store in 2012.
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