FRIENDSHIP – A mobile home in Friendship has now been rendered uninhabitable after an evening fire.

“The heat was so bad inside, they’re not going to be able to go back in,” Fire Chief Kevin Benner said.

Just after 6 p.m., Thursday, May 31, an occupant of 5 Red Maple Lane made her way to a neighbor’s house as smoke and flames escaped from around the eaves of the single-story, single-wide trailer.

According to Benner, the fire itself was extinguished quickly, within ten minutes of the initial call. However, because of the confined space within the trailer, the heat stayed in, melting a lot of materials and personal belongings.

Because of that heat, firefighters stayed on scene for an extended period in order to ventilate the structure.

At the time, Benner said that he did not know how the fire started, and that a call has been made to the State Fire Marshal’s office.

“They like to be notified,” he said. “And it’s good to let them make the decision.”

Cushing and Waldoboro fire departments also responded to the flames, which Benner estimated took within ten minutes to knock down.

“It was a good stop. Everything went good.” he said. “It was just the lack of help at the onset, which is usual with the volunteer departments.”

Sarah Thompson can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com