Historic Dexter home damaged Thursday, June 12, 2008 By Diana Bowley of the Bangor Daily News: DEXTER, Maine - Authorities say a lightning strike Tuesday night may have caused a fire that damaged a historic home at 16 Zion’s Hill owned by Martin and Martha Keaveney Dexter firefighters were called about 7 a.m. Wednesday when the fire erupted after smoldering throughout the night in an attached barn, according to Dexter Fire Chief Barry Deering. The owners had been out of the region on Tuesday night so no one was home at the time of the fire, he said The State Fire Marshal’s Office investigator determined that the fire was caused by lightning, according to Deering The fire damaged the barn and part of the first floor of the three-story home, which was built in 1835 Joel Costonis, who lives across from the Keaveneys’ yellow home, said his wife woke him early Wednesday morning believing that their house was on fire because there was so much smoke "You couldn’t see anything [because of the smoke]," he said Wednesday as he and his son Gianni, 2, sat outside on a step and watched the action Dexter Police Chief Art Roy, one of the first people on the scene early Wednesday morning, was overheard hollering to find out if anyone was inside the home, Costonis said "It’s obviously a terrible huge loss," Costonis said. He recalled slate shingles flying in all directions as firefighters dowsed the roof. "It was scary." The slate roof held the fire and heat inside, making it difficult to fight, Deering said. He said firefighters couldn’t drill holes in the roof to extinguish the fire "With the heat and the size of the house, it was a great stop," Deering said. He praised the crews who responded for saving the house

A lightning strike is believed to have started a fire Tuesday night at the home of Martin Keaveney on Zion's Hill in Dexter. The fire apparently smoldered throughout the night and erupted early Wednesday morning. The family had been out of the region when the strike A lightning strike is believed to have started a fire Tuesday night at the home of Martin Keaveney on Zion's Hill in Dexter. The fire apparently smoldered throughout the night and erupted early Wednesday morning. The family had been out of the region when the strike occurred and the fire began. (Bangor Daily News/Diana Bowley) Deering said firefighters from Corinna, Sangerville and Dover-Foxcroft joined Dexter in fighting the fire. Much of the furnishings and the two top floors were not damaged by fire but received smoke damage, he said. The owners have insurance coverage, according to the fire chief. "This content originally appeared as a copyrighted article in the Monday, May 19, 2008 edition of the Bangor Daily NEWS and is used here with permission."