NEWS | Biddeford firefighters contain crawl space fire on Clifford Street

According to a media statement from the Biddeford Fire Department, firefighters responded to a report of a building fire at 4 Clifford Street in Biddeford on Sunday afternoon, shortly after 3:30 p.m.

Upon arrival, firefighters found a fire in the crawl space under the house. Due to fences and landscaping around the house, the crawl space and back of the house where the fire originated were difficult to access with hose lines.

Crews had to cut three chain link fences to access the area of the fire, and issued an “An All-Hands” request that brought mutual aid response from surrounding communities, including Arundel, Saco, Old Orchard Beach, Scarborough and Goodwins Mills.

Firefighters had the fire contained within 30 minutes and then spent the next hour checking for fire extension on the first floor and conducting a cause and origin investigation, according to a statement from the Biddeford Fire Department.

There was only one minor injury that involved a resident who suffered some burns while trying to extinguish the fire before firefighters arrived on scene. The resident declined further treatment and was not taken to the hospital.

The cause and origin of the fire is under investigation by the Biddeford Fire Department Fire Prevention Division but appears to be accidental, according to fire officials.

Sunday proved to be a busy day for the Biddeford Fire Department. The Clifford Street fire was the eighth call of the day, and Biddeford firefighters were responding to two other emergency calls when the Clifford Street fire was first reported.

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