SMITHFIELD — The cause of a fire at 668 Village Road in Smithfield Thursday morning is under investigation by the Office of Maine State Fire Marshal.
The fire, reported around 9 a.m., appeared to have caused extensive damage to the left side of the house, but firefighters at the scene did not know what started it, said Capt. Melanie Winegardner of the Smithfield Fire Department.
Homeowner Penny Petrucelli and her boyfriend, Paul, who also lived there, were not at the scene and the fire department was still trying to contact them around 11 a.m.
No one was home at the time of the fire, and there were no pets in the house, Winegardner said. She said the cause of the fire is not being considered suspicious. Fire Chief John Easler did not return a call seeking further comment later Thursday.
“They’re super people and very, very hard workers,” said next door neighbor Butch Sweeney, 63. Sweeney said he heard sirens around 9 a.m. and came outside to see what was going on. He saw smoke coming from the house and within 15 minutes flames were shooting out of the building, he said.
“I was sickened when I saw it because it’s kind of like someone is always trying to get ahead and then something like this sets them back,” he said. “It’s a shame.”
A wooden sign outside the house labeled it “The Funny Farm,” and a chicken was wandering around the backyard. Sweeney said the couple raises chickens and were planning to get pigs
“They’re really hard-working people. They’re always doing something in the yard. If I’m up and outside in the morning, he’ll beep at me as he goes by on his way to work,” Sweeney said. “He’s young but what a smart kid. He has a good head on his shoulders.”
He said he wasn’t sure whether the couple has insurance or if they have family nearby to help them recover from the fire.
“When you see a fire on TV and when it’s your next door neighbor, it’s two different things,” Sweeney said. “It gives you a different feeling — a sickened feeling or a sad feeling because you know the people. It hurts to see that, especially when someone is so outgoing and hard working.”
Firefighters from Belgrade, Norridgewock, Rome and Oakland responded to the scene.
Rachel Ohm — 612-2368
Twitter: @rachel_ohm
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