Durham contractor loses office building to fire

DURHAM An unused office building at Copp Construction on Pinkham Brook Road was destroyed in a fire of undetermined origin early Friday morning.

Chris Stanford of the State Fire Marshal' s Office and Durham fire Chief Bill St. Michel sifted through the ruins Friday morning and although they couldn't pinpoint a cause, it is "not considered suspicious," St. Michel said.

Owner Mike Copp estimated his loss at a minimum $40,000 and said it was "good news" that the fire marshal ruled out arson as a cause. He said the fire marshal told him he was "80 percent sure it was an electrical issue."

The building was insured.

Androscoggin County Deputy Sheriff Eric Samson was on routine patrol when he noticed a glow in the sky and discovered the blaze shortly after midnight.

The 27- by 40-foot wood-frame structure was engulfed in flames when Durham firefighters arrived and the roof had already collapsed, the fire chief said. Two engines and a tanker from Lisbon Fire Department also responded and the blaze was knocked down in about half an hour, St. Michel said.

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Durham contractor loses office building to fire