WEST PARIS — Four people safely escaped their 19th century farmhouse early Tuesday morning when fire broke out in the chimney.

Fire Chief Norman St. Pierre said firefighters responded to the home of Jack Roberts at 13 Tuelltown Road just before 8 a.m. after Roberts and his family discovered flames in the chimney. The flames sent hot embers onto the floor near the chimney clean-out area between the living quarters in the house and the attached barn, he said.

The family heard a popping noise in the chimney, which vents a wood stove, the only heat source in the farmhouse. The popping noise was apparently cinder blocks breaking from the heat, St. Pierre said.

A piece of slate on the top of the chimney to keep the rain out may have exacerbated the situation, he said.

Although firefighters were able to contain the situation quickly by using a water cannon to flood the chimney, floor and a crawl area beneath it, St. Pierre said he called in Norway, Paris, Sumner and Oxford fire departments. Tri Town Rescue and Ambulance service stood by.

“We were able to save everything, but with the wind it could have blown the flames and everything would be gone,” he said.

Roberts, who is in his late 70s, and his wife, their son, who is in his 40s and uses a wheelchair, and the son’s caretaker were allowed back into the house, but the chimney will have to be replaced, St. Pierre said.

St. Pierre said Roberts, a longtime member of the Tri Town Rescue, has always been there for others in the community. He said he hopes the community will help support the construction of a new chimney by mailing a donation to the West Paris Fire Station, care of Jack Roberts, P.O. Box 147, West Paris, ME 04289.

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