TROY, Maine — A family of 11's farm burned down in a wind-whipped fire in Troy Wednesday afternoon.
Two dogs, several cows and "many" chickens and rabbits were killed in the blaze, according to a fire official and a family member. Farm owner Josh Bean suffered smoke inhalation but was expected to be OK. His wife, Laura, and some of their nine children who were on the farm escaped unhurt. The family was searching for three cats that were missing as of Thursday afternoon.
Troy fire Chief Chris Phillips said the fire started at the Barker Road farm around 1 p.m. in a workshop in a shed. The blaze quickly spread to the barn and house, both about 15 feet away, he said, adding firefighters arrived 8 minutes after the first 911 call but by that time the fire had fully engulfed all three structures, which were deemed a total loss.
The family was staying with a neighbor while town officials and the Red Cross help with finding them housing, Phillips said. A family member established a GoFundMe fundraiser that's verified by town officials.
The family's farm in rural Maine is their only source of income, according to family member Noah Miller, who wrote the fire also destroyed two vehicles and the Beans needs help rebuilding their lives.
A group of cows and horses survived the fire, according to Phillips.
The Maine Office of State Fire Marshal was investigating to determine the exact cause of the blaze.