Chelsea, Maine – A devastating fire engulfed a large manufacturing building, along with several empty sheds and other structures in Chelsea this afternoon. The blaze, captured on camera by a concerned neighbor, erupted at New England Rent to Own, a company specializing in sheds and modular homes.
The witness, who called 911 upon seeing the building in flames around 1 p.m. on Sunday, described the terrifying moment when an explosion rocked the area. Fire marshals are currently on the scene investigating the cause of the fire, with initial suspicions pointing to lithium batteries used to charge power tools inside the building.
Fortunately, no individuals were inside the building when the fire started, and there have been no reports of injuries to any workers. The structure primarily housed construction materials, unfinished sheds, and modular homes.
In addition to the main manufacturing building, about eight other recently built and empty structures also caught fire, resulting in a significant impact on over a dozen workers. Plans are underway to relocate the affected employees to other facilities temporarily.
New England Rent to Own expressed deep concern over the setback in their production of affordable homes due to the fire. Despite the challenges faced, the company remains resilient and is offering a free raffle for a mobile home on their Facebook page, with plans to announce the winner in October.