APPLETON – The investigation into the cause of an early morning fire that forced an Appleton couple from their house, and that was the trigger for a minor injury to a firefighter, has concluded.

The cause of fire will remain undetermined, according to Sgt. Joel Davis of the State Fire Marshal’s Office, Monday, April 2.

“There’s just too much damage to be able to determine a cause, but it doesn’t appear to be suspicious,” he said.

While responding to the 3:40 a.m. call at the former horse farm, Rockledge Farm, a firefighter associated with the Hope Fire Department was hit in the head with a coupling from a hose, said Hope Fire Chief Clarence Keller.

The firefighter was transported, treated and released from a local hospital.

“He was wearing his helmet and that protected him from more serious injury,” said Keller.

Immediately following news of the fire, a GoFundMe page was set up for property owners Carol Wiley Gould and Alan Gould. 

APPLETON – A house in Appleton was fully engulfed by the time firefighters arrived at a farm just after 3:40 a.m., Thursday, March 29.

Two occupants within Rock Ledge Farm, the property at 1003 Peabody Road owned by Carol Wiley Gould and Alan Gould, were able to exit the house that would eventually succumb, along with another building, to fire, according to Appleton Asst. Fire Chief Brian Sullivan.

Central Maine Power arrived on scene and cut power to the structure approximately an hour after the initial call to Knox County Communications.

After the power company departed, flames still shot from several points of egress.

An investigator from the State Fire Marshal’s office has been requested, and will help with finding the cause of the blaze.

Firefighters from Appleton, Washington, Hope, and Union responded, along with at least one member of the Searsmont Volunteer Fire Department.

The portion of Peabody Road where the property is located is along a narrow two lane dirt road.

Water was pumped from a nearby fire pond.

Details will be added to this story as they become available.

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com