BANGOR — A propane gas explosion is believed to be the cause of a fire that severely damaged a condemned house and seriously injured one person early Monday morning, officials said.
The Bangor Fire Department and Bangor Police Department responded to the blaze at 75 4th St. at approximately 5:40 a.m. on March 10.
The single-family home had been previously condemned and boarded up by the city, according to the Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office.
Initial reports indicated people were trapped inside the structure, but firefighters did not find anyone during their search and rescue operations.
One individual who was in the house when the fire started suffered serious burn injuries and was transported to a Bangor hospital.
The victim will be transferred to Maine Medical Center in Portland for further treatment.
Two firefighters sustained minor injuries during the response and were treated at the scene.
The Fire Marshal’s Office investigators worked with the Bangor Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division throughout the day to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Bangor Fire Department’s Technical Rescue Team secured the structure to allow investigators to safely enter and examine the scene.
The Maine Fuel Board has been called in to assist with the ongoing investigation.
