By AMY CALDER
WINSLOW — A fast-moving fire Friday afternoon destroyed a log cabin home and attached garage on China Road, where firefighters from several towns battled the blaze in frigid temperatures and a strong wind.
The one-story home at 1178 China Road, about 1.25 miles from the China town line, is on the north side of the road, also known as Route 137.
The home-owner’s name was not immediately available, but it appeared that at least two people were home when the fire broke out, according to Winslow Fire Chief David LaFountain, who was at the scene.
LaFountain, who also is chief of the Waterville Fire Department, said firefighters called the state Fire Marshal’s Office to come and help determine the cause of the fire.
More than two dozen firefighters from Waterville, Winslow, Albion, Vassalboro, China and China Village fire departments worked at the scene, where they rescued a brown rabbit in a cage but were searching for two dogs and a cat, according to LaFountain.
“We’re looking for two dogs and a cat — a black lab, a Yorkie and an undesignated feline,” he said just after 4 p.m.
The fire broke out about 3 p.m. and destroyed a car parked in the paved driveway. Thick gray smoke and flames shot out of both the house and garage.
A neighbor, Keisha Whitman, 30, stood on the roadside in the cold, watching as firefighters sprayed water on the burning house.
“They just took an animal out,” Whitman said. “It looks like it is still alive.”
Firefighters placed the animal, which turned out to be the rabbit, in a firetruck to keep it warm.
Firefighters were taking water from a pond about 3 miles west of the fire scene on Route 137 to fight the fire. Traffic on busy Route 137 also was being redirected around the scene as emergency personnel worked there.
The single-family house on 8.64 acres is described online at Zillow as having been built in 1987. It contains 1,604 square feet of floor space and has three bedrooms and one bathroom, the site says.
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