The remains of a camper on Gerrish Drive
Photo: Lee Burnett
By Lee Burnett
The Maine State Fire Marshal’s office is investigating the cause of a fire Tuesday afternoon that destroyed a camper at a property that the Sanford City Council had declared a dangerous nuisance two months ago. No one was injured.
Witnesses say flames climbed high in the sky above the camper at 26 Gerrish Drive. Initially, there was concern that someone might be trapped inside, but that was not the case, according to neighbor Chris Wellwood.
Fire crews stopped the fire from spreading to the adjoining house, although the heat of the fire melted its vinyl siding.
The property is the site of a homeless encampment with multiple temporary structures, tents, random debris and trash. Neighbors have complained about rats, trespassing on neighboring properties, discarded needles and mountains of trash.
“There is a lot of smoke there and there is a concern for fire safety,” according to minutes of a June 17 City Council meeting. The property was ordered to be vacated June 9 by Sanford Code Enforcement due to various code violations dating back five years, according to meeting minutes. Unpermitted structures were posted as uninhabitable. Following a long public hearing on June 17, the City Council declared the property a danger and ordered the property cleaned up. Police or fire have responded to calls for service at that property 27 times this year.
Of late, Sanford Police had moved out 10-11 tenters in the rear but many returned, according to Wellwood. The house is still occupied, he said.
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