Fire destroys Rumford house; firefighters contain spread

A fire destroyed a three-story house in Rumford early Sunday morning. The incident occurred at 39 Franklin St. around 6 a.m. Firefighters from six towns responded to the scene, battling strong winds that reached nearly 40 mph. The gusty winds not only spread the fire but also caused embers to drift, igniting a small fire at a nearby historic building. This building, at 33 Franklin St., is known as the Waldo Pettingill House, built in 1891. Firefighters quickly extinguished the second fire before it could cause major damage. The Office of the State Fire Marshal has been notified to investigate the cause of the fire. Thankfully, no injuries were reported during this incident. Rescue efforts from the fire departments of Andover, Dixfield, Mexico, Peru, Roxbury, and Rumford were crucial in containing the flames. Further updates on the situation are expected.