SKOWHEGAN — A family lost everything in a blaze that destroyed a home Monday morning on Oak Pond Road.

Two bulldogs, who were outside at the time of the fire, survived, though one suffered burns to the face and throat. It was unclear whether a cat survived.

Additional Photos

LOSS: Firefighters battle a fire that destroyed a two-story house on Oak Pond Road in Skowhegan on Monday morning. Staff photo by Erin Rhoda

SMOKE INHALATION: Colby Hartley, left, paramedic Gary Paradis, center, and EMT Jay Kennedy care for two bulldogs that were outside at the time of the house fire. Hartley, of Belgrade, was driving by at the time of the fire and stopped to help. The black dog suffered burns on its face and in its throat, Paradis said. They used an oxygen mask to help the dog breathe. Staff photo Erin Rhoda

Dozens of firefighters from four towns had been fighting the flames for about an hour when some of the family members that had lived there arrived.

David Tozier, who had lived there with Staci Tozier and their three children, pulled up in a van around 10:15 a.m., ran toward the burning house and then stopped by a firetruck. He bent toward the ground, covered his face and cried.

Brenda Charrier, who is the mother of Staci Tozier and is a co-founder of the former Charrier’s Restaurant in Skowhegan, wrapped her arms around her 20-year-old granddaughter, Kaitlyn Tozier, who held her hands to her mouth.

Charrier said Staci and David Tozier built the house at 518 Oak Pond Road about 10 years ago.

Colby Hartley, of Belgrade, was driving by the home Monday morning when he saw the fire. Another man was at the fire before him and called for help, he said, though he didn’t know his name. The fire was reported at 8:51 a.m.

Hartley said one of the bulldogs had been on a leash outside and had slipped out of his collar to escape the fire. Another dog had broken out of a fenced-in kennel, which had a locked gate.

“Somehow he broke out of it,” Hartley said. “It’s good, thank God, they were outside.”

Gary Paradis, a paramedic with Redington-Fairview General Hospital, and emergency medical technician Jay Kennedy helped take care of the dogs until an animal control officer arrived.

Paradis said one dog had run into the woods and collapsed, and they had to carry him out. In addition to suffering burns to the face and airways, the dog had an ember that was burning into its back. Hartley pulled it off with his hands.

Skowhegan Fire Chief Tom Keene requested an investigator from the State Fire Marshal’s Office to help determine the fire’s cause. The fire already had engulfed the house when rescue crews arrived.

“There’s not a lot to look at,” Keene said while firefighters pulled down charred boards with hooked poles. He said he had no reason to think the fire was suspicious. The home was insured.

“It was a very fast-moving fire,” he said. “Nothing could be saved from the home.”

According to the town’s 2011 tax records, the house was owned by David Tozier and assessed at $184,100.

In addition to Skowhegan, fire departments from Canaan, Norridgewock and Madison responded. Keene said the Toziers would be staying with relatives in the short term.

Erin Rhoda — 612-2368

erhoda@centralmaine.com

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