Sinclair man whose home exploded is ‘lucky to be alive,’ say family, neighbors

SINCLAIR, Maine — A 73-year-old man who survived an explosion at his home Saturday night is out of the hospital and is now staying with family.

Local firefighters responded to 441 Shore Road in the small Aroostook County town after the home of Aldeo Ouellette exploded just before 7 p.m. The home of his next-door neighbor, Rita Dionne, caught fire as a result. Both homes burned and Ouellette was taken to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Ouellette’s daughter-in-law, Brianna Ouellette, confirmed Aldeo Ouellette’s identity Monday morning as she surveyed the home’s damage.

Brianna was searching for her father-in-law’s missing Maine coon cat, Chance, whom neighbors had supposedly seen walking around. Aldeo’s 3-year-old dog Brandy, a pitbull and dachshund mix, did not survive, Brianna said.

Aldeo was released from the hospital Sunday but was still “shaken” from the fire, Brianna said.

As of Monday afternoon, the Maine state fire marshal’s office is still investigating and has not yet released a known cause for the explosion, said Darren Woods, chief of North Lakes Fire & Rescue.

North Lakes operates one of its three stations in Sinclair and responded along with the Maine State Police and fire marshal.

Just before the fire, Brianna and family, who also live in Sinclair, were returning to town from a 4-wheeler trip when they saw smoke billowing from Shore Road.

“There were no words,” Brianna said Monday. “We were shocked and terrified. We didn’t know if [Aldeo] was inside.”

By the time his family arrived, neighbors had helped Aldeo get away from the burning pile of debris. He was still “dazed” and did not fully understand what had happened, Brianna said, but lucky to have survived.

“He stood up from the rubble like nothing had happened,” Brianna said.

Aldeo had purchased the home in 1989 and built the cellar himself. The fire is not only tragic but happened just days before his 74th birthday on Tuesday, Brianna said.

The tiny lakeside town, which borders Long Lake, also was trying to comprehend the horrible incident Monday morning.

Francis Collins lives almost directly across the street from the burned homes on Shore Road. She was leaving Martin’s General Store, just down the road from her house, when she heard a loud boom.

Collins ran back into the store and notified the owner, Gerry Beaulieu, who is a local firefighter with North Lakes Fire & Rescue.

Once she got home, Collins was terrified but relieved that Aldeo and his neighbor, Rita Dionne, were able to get out.

“It’s awful. I’ve lived here 73 years, I was raised here, and I’ve never seen anything like it,” Collins said.

Dionne’s granddaughter, Katelynn Mouchane, immediately began a Go Fund Me page to help her grandmother. Dionne lost her home and a hair salon that she operated there, Mouchane said.

Martin’s General Store is accepting donated clothes, money and gift cards for Aldeo Ouellette and Dionne, according to its Facebook page .

Though initial reports said she escaped without injury, Dionne was treated at a hospital for a “slight head injury” but came home with her daughter on Sunday, Martin said.