Fire officials estimated the loss at about $10,000.
Umphrey said Stanley Murphy and his wife and six children received no injuries, but lost most of the furnishings of their two story home following a 9:30 p. m. alarm.
The fire chief said he was unable to list the cause of the fire. He reported that Washburn and Caribou firemen were hampered in fire fighting efforts by lack of water.
The owner of the buildings was identified as George Howard. Chief Umphrey said that Howard was partially insured.
The fire official said the fire began in the back of the barn which was located a few feet from the house and that both buildings were destroyed.
Umphrey explained that the fire burned through the barn and spread to the house.
An estimated 30 firemen from Washburn and Caribou and five fire trucks, including four from Washburn and one from Caribou, rushed to the burning farm buildings. Chief Umphrey said the barn was full of fire when he got there.
Firemen remained at the farm in force until about midnight.
[May 1967]