CITY

Lewiston man escapes burning house

By Mark LaFlamme, Staff Writer

Published Feb 03, 2011 12:00 am | Last updated Feb 03, 2011 12:15 am

 LEWISTON — A man fled his burning home on Old Greene Road late Wednesday night and fire crews expected to be battling the blaze into Thursday morning. When police arrived at 678 Old Greene Road at about 10:30 p.m., the man who lives there was outside in his underwear, having escaped the Cape Cod house as flames devoured it. Police said the man was not hurt. He took exile in his truck and was given a blanket to stay warm. Meanwhile, fire crews from five towns contended with slushy roads, bitter cold, falling snow and a water shortage: Fire hydrants in the area stop short of the burning house. Lewiston firefighters went at the burning house with a tanker of their own and called for others from nearby towns. Auburn, Sabattus, Greene and Wales each sent crews to help with the effort. The house that burned is roughly a mile beyond No Name Pond Road and is owned by Rosaire Tardiff, according to a city of Lewiston property map. It was believed to be Tardiff who escaped from the burning house. His son was at the scene with him as firefighters sought to bring the fire under control. Police said a dog may have perished in the blaze. The cause was unknown. Lewiston Fire Inspector Paul Ouellette was called to the scene to begin an investigation once the flames were brought under control.