A grass fire raging out of control razed the barn behind the Cecil Rediker home on the Perham road Sunday afternoon, then spread to gut the interior of the story and a half frame home.

Grass Fire Ignites Barn, Family Home

A grass fire spreading rapidly out of control was blamed by firemen for the loss of a barn and extensive damage to a two one and a half story frame home on the Perham road in Caribou Sunday afternoon.

Homeless in a few short hours was the Cecil Rediker family consisting of father, mother, two sons and four little girls ranging in ages from 15 on down to five years, also Rediker's father who made his home with them.

The family was temporarily housed with neighbors late that afternoon.

Witnesses at the scene of the blaze noted that the grass fire first ignited the barn behind the house. Full of hay, it was in full flame within about five minutes, it was said. The blaze spread to the nearby home, gutting its interior, and leaving only a charred shell standing before the flames could be extinguished.

The Redikers were unable to save any of their belongings.

The parents are employed at potato processing plants, the father at Fort Fairfield and the mother at Presque Isle.

It was reported that they carried no insuranee. Fire Chief Conald Woods estimated the value of the buildings at $2,500, with about $1,500 as the worth of the contents.

[April 1968]