One Person Still Unaccounted For As Maine Fire Officials Investigate Palermo House Fire

A fire that broke out in the Waldo County town of Palermo late Monday night is being investigated by Maine's top fire officials.

According to the Maine Department of Public Safety, the fire on the Leeman Arm Road was reported around 11:30 p.m. Monday. When firefighters arrived, the entire house was engulfed in flames, so they went about trying to ascertain if anyone was inside.

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"Fire personnel located a severely burned adult male in the roadway near the residence who had escaped the fire prior to their arrival. The individual was transported by ambulance to Maine General Hospital and was later transported via LifeFlight to Maine Medical Center, where he is in critical condition. The injured male informed firefighters that one additional person remained inside the residence."

Fire personnel from several area departments provided mutual aid at the scene of the fire, as the Palermo Fire Department worked to extinguish the blaze and locate the second occupant. So far, the second victim is still unaccounted for. Public Safety officials say half a dozen members of the Maine State Fire Marshal's Office are working that scene this afternoon, looking for clues as to what caused the fire.

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We will update this story as more information becomes available.

Officials with the American Red Cross Northern New England Division say they have responded to over 250 house fires this year alone, with 90% of their disaster responses overall going to single and multi-family fires.