​Maine home burns to ground due to unplowed driveway

WOOLWICH, Maine - Firefighters had to helplessly watch a home in Maine burn to the ground because they couldn't get their fire trucks up the long unplowed driveway.

Capt. Glen Kirkpatrick of of the Woolwich Fire Department said firefighters were called to the home in Woolwich at about 9 p.m. Tuesday to find the house fully involved, with fire shooting from windows.

The quarter-mile driveway had not been plowed. Fire trucks became stuck in the snow about 20 feet in, so firefighters had to leaves their trucks and hoses behind and trek about 1,500 feet in the dark through heavy snow.

All they could do was watch the burning home collapse.

"I would say we were helpless," Kirkpatrick told CBS Affiliate WGME. "First time in 25 years I've ever had that happen."

The home's lone occupant made it out safely. His pet cat and dog were believed killed.

Crews were able to shovel snow onto the fire to stop it from spreading to a neighboring shed.

Authorities told WGME that the homeowner had been using a tractor to plow the long, winding driveway but couldn't keep up with the heavy snow.

Captain Kirkpatrick says the incident reminds everyone of an important lesson. "Keep clear driveways and pathways for Fire, EMS, and police officers," he told WGME correspondent Maria Valvanis.

The cause is unclear but does not appear suspicious.