Fire in moving truck spreads to home in Sanford
Moving Truck Fire Inhaled By Sanford Home, Firefighter Injured
SANFORD, Maine – A moving truck that was transporting residents into a new Sanford home caught fire on Monday afternoon, sending flames onto the house and leaving a firefighter with a laceration. The blaze was contained within about ten minutes, but the front of the house suffered extensive damage that currently renders it uninhabitable.
The Sanford Fire Department was first called to 13 Acorn Street around 12:40 p.m. after a box truck on fire was reported on the street. Assistant Chief Brian Watkins said the vehicle had been moving the occupants’ belongings into the house when it erupted. By the time firefighters arrived, the flames had spread to the dwelling.
“Because the street was congested, and the truck was engulfed in flames, the first responders had to navigate a tight space,” Watkins explained. “Despite the initial challenge, the fire was contained in roughly ten minutes thanks to the quick actions of the first units on the scene.”
A single firefighter sustained a laceration during the response and was treated at a local hospital. The incident was later investigated by the Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office. According to spokesperson Shannon Moss, the investigation determined that the fire started inside a box within the moving truck. However, investigators have not ruled out the possibility that careless disposal of smoking materials contributed to the incident.
The moving truck was operated by DN Van Lines, a Massachusetts‑based company. Residents who had just begun moving into the 13 Acorn Street home were left in a precarious position as the fire took hold. The home itself remains standing, but its front façade is heavily damaged. While it has not been declared a total loss, it is currently considered uninhabitable.
The Sanford Fire Department has advised residents in the area to remain vigilant for potential secondary fires and to be cautious when disposing of smoking materials. The investigation into the precise cause of the fire remains open, with authorities continuing to examine all potential contributing factors.
