CAMDEN — Fire, possibly started by a lightning strike earlier Wednesday afternoon, destroyed a two-story Camden home at 265 Beaucaire Ave. early Thursday morning. There was nobody inside or staying at the lakefront home at the time of the fire.

According to Camden Fire Chief Chris Farley at noon, the State Fire Marshal’s Office is calling the cause of the fire “undetermined.”

Camden Fire Department received the call about a fully involved house fire at 2:53 a.m., and fire departments from Rockport, Hope, Lincolnville and Union were called to provide mutual aid. North East Mobile Health was called to the scene.

The residence is located on Megunticook Lake, on the Molyneaux Road end of Beaucaire. Water had to be trucked in from the boat landing at Bog Bridge on Route 105, as there is no fire hydrant in the neighborhood. Fire Chief Chris Farley said engines from Hope, Lincolnville, Camden and Union made continuous trips to bring water to the scene.

When first responders arrived, flames were shooting from the entire house, and sparks drifted up in the dark sky, up over the treetops. Small explosions and pops could be heard, as windows burst and items inside the home succumbed to the intense heat.

An adjacent home at 267 Beaucaire was evacuated by Camden Police Officer Jeff Boudreau. That home was located very close to the burning home, sharing a driveway, and at one point firefighters put water onto it as well to keep the roof and exposed side of the home cool and protect it from floating embers. Residents on the opposite side of the burning home were also rousted out of bed while firefighters worked to put the fire out.

A live power line to the home broke free and landed across the driveway, temporarily preventing more firefighters from moving closer to the home. 

Ivan Stancioff, whose summer home is three doors away, said lightning struck close to the area during a quick but strong thunder storm that rolled through Camden Wednesday afternoon.

Farley said, “Due to the extent of damage, with only one wall left standing and the rest of the house a pile of rubbles, we are unlikely to find the origin.”

About 35 minutes after firefighters and engines arrived on scene, the majority of the fire had been knocked down and heat that could be felt from the road had dissipated. Within another 10 minutes, the fire was just about out, except for some scattered hot spots.

According to the town’s property tax information, 265 Beaucaire Ave. is owned by Joseph and Helen Kimber. Farley said that so far, Camden Police have not been able to make contact with the owners, who he said live in Maryland.

Later in the day Thursday, Farley and Son Landscaping arrived on scene to tear down the single wall of the home that remained standing, along with the chimney.

Editorial Director Holly S. Edwards can be reached at hollyedwards@penbaypilot.com or 706-6655.