Owner of Fire Damaged Home to Remove Structure

The owner of a house on Water Street not-quite leveled by fire has told town officials he will remove the structure this week.

The house, at 24 Water St., is owned by a real estate company based in Franklin. The principal, James Gagne, had been ordered by town Building Commissioner John Erickson on June 17 to remove the building for public safety reasons. 

Erickson sent the letter following an inspection of the property with Milford Fire Chief John Touhey, and after he hadn't heard from the owner for almost three months. 

The response came quickly. The owner obtained a demolition permit from the town on June 21. The $11,000 project will be handled by Guaranteed Builders & Developers of East Douglas, according to the document.

Erickson said Tuesday he understood demolition would begin sometime this week.

The fire that destroyed the two-family home was reported in late March, and was caused by a laptop computer that overheated, and ignited cardboard, according to Touhey.