Three weeks after devastating fire, storm wreaks havoc at site of Phil's ... - Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel
MONMOUTH — Phil Pratt was in Portland when his son called. Those three huge maple trees, the ones Pratt had been eying for years, had finally come down, blown over by a storm that seemed to crash down on Pratt’s South Monmouth Road property and then disappear. They had landed on four vehicles, one of which was still loaded with antiques Pratt’s son had collected as a donation that morning. Even as Pratt was processing the news, his mind raced back three weeks to the fire that leveled his shop, taking with it nearly $200,000 in equipment and a lifetime of memories and work worth a whole lot more than that. Pratt, who had been welding a car in the shop, ended his day and returned to his house located on the same property. Monmouth Fire Chief Daniel Roy said the next day that hot slag or sparks from the welding had ignited something combustible in the vehicle, which burst into flames after Pratt left. The fire destroyed three vehicles, including Pratt’s pristine 1971 Buick Riviera Boattail and a pickup truck and car owned by a pair of customers. The truck owner is not seeking compensation, Pratt said. The most devastating loss, though, were the tools and equipment Pratt had collected over the years, estimated by the tool salesman with whom. Source: www.centralmaine.com
