Chelsea, Maine – A massive fire engulfed a large manufacturing building in Chelsea on Sunday afternoon, destroying the facility along with several empty sheds and additional structures. The building belonged to New England Rent to Own, a manufacturer of sheds and modular homes, and one neighbor captured the dramatic moment when the building exploded on camera.
After noticing the fire, a quick-thinking neighbor called 911 around 1 p.m. Sunday, prompting fire marshals to arrive at the scene for further investigation. Authorities informed the owners of New England Rent to Own that the blaze may have been triggered by lithium batteries charging power tools inside the building. Fortunately, no one was inside the building at the time of the fire, and all employees were reported to be safe.
The main building contained construction materials, unfinished sheds, and modular homes, while approximately eight other vacant and newly constructed buildings were also caught in the flames. Co-owner Bobby Miller expressed devastation over the loss, praising the rapid response of first responders from multiple towns who worked to extinguish the fire. The company’s focus now shifts to supporting their staff and employees, many of whom are dedicated individuals integral to the daily operations of the business.
Impact on over a dozen employees is expected, prompting plans to temporarily relocate them to other company buildings. New England Rent to Own lamented the delay in production of affordable homes due to the incident, emphasizing the importance of getting their team back to work swiftly and initiating the rebuilding process. The company remains committed to overcoming this setback and returning to full production capacity in the near future.