LIVERMORE — The interior of a home at the Carriage House Cafe property on Federal Road was destroyed by fire Tuesday evening.

The call came in as a chimney fire at about 9 p.m. but it was quickly apparent that it had grown to a larger issue by the time firefighters arrived, Livermore fire Chief Donald Castonguay said.

Smoke was pouring out of the building at that time, and around 20 fire engines and crews were at the scene, fighting high winds as they worked to control the blaze, neighbor Marcia Hamblin said.

Crews from Jay, Canton, Livermore Falls, Wilton and Turner assisted Livermore at the scene, Castonguay.

Firefighters approached the building with ladders on two sides, Hamblin said, and she could hear the whine of chain saws from her home as they cut holes in the structure. Crews pumped water from Brettun Pond, 300 feet away, Castonguay said.

They were still battling with a blaze that Castonguay called “stubborn” at 11 p.m. “We’re fighting the wind and cold right now,” he said, adding that fire crews had experienced some equipment problems as well. “We’ve got it fairly well contained to one corner,” Castonguay said. “The insides are going to be gutted.” 

The building, an old two-story cape-style home, also houses the Carriage House Cafe in an addition completed in 2004 to replace a previous carriage house.

The restaurant has been closed for about five months, said Livermore Selectman John Wakefield. It was opened by Michael Weaver in 2003.

Weaver was in the building when the blaze began and was fighting it with a fire extinguisher as fire crews arrived, Castonguay said. Another man whose name was not known was also in the home at the time, he said. No one was injured, Castonguay said.

Fire Marshals were en route to the scene at 11 p.m., but the fire appeared to have begun near a wood stove that was in use Tuesday evening, Castonguay said.

The cafe, which is attached to the home by a covered walkway, did not appear damaged by the fire, he said.

Although the restaurant has not been open recently, it had an active liquor license, which Weaver got renewed in November. The Board of Selectmen also gave Weaver a special amusement permit at that time, allowing the restaurant to host live music events and dancing.

When Weaver applied for the license, he listed the home on the property as his address, although he said he was commuting to a restaurant where he worked in Brooklin, Wakefield said.

The building is listed for sale on Mainelistings.com, a real estate website.