Fire Leaves Houlton Family Homeless [UPDATE]

A Houlton family has been left without a home after a fire swept through it on Tuesday afternoon.

According to Chief Milton Cone of the Houlton Fire Department, fire crews were called to 26 Weeks Street in Houlton at approximately 4:40 p.m. on Tuesday to the rented home of Ashley Belyea.

Upon arrival, flames were coming out of the windows of the second story of the home.

Belyea, her 8-year-old daughter and 2-month-old son made it out of the home safely, but were taken to Houlton Regional Hospital by ambulance and treated for smoke inhalation.

The fire is believed to have started on the first floor in the kitchen and porch area of the home.

The home is actually owned by Larry Cochran, who did have insurance on the home.

23 Houlton fire fighters battled the blaze for several hours, and had a tough time battling the fire due to the extremely cold temperatures.

The home sustained heavy smoke and water damage.

State Fire Marshal, Tim Lowell was on site Wednesday morning to investigate the cause of the fire.

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