LIVERMORE FALLS — A crane used to load logs was destroyed Monday when it caught fire at a logging operation off an old county road, which is off Strickland Loop, Chief Tim Hardy said Tuesday.

The Hood machine is owned by Lukeus and Lance Flagg of L & L Timber of Livermore Falls, he said. It was being used when the fire broke out, Hardy said.

A state fire inspector will try to determine the cause.

There had been incidents in the past in that area, so firefighters wanted to cover all the bases, Hardy said.

Nothing stood out that made the fire seem suspicious, he said.

Approximately 16 firefighters from Livermore Falls, Jay, Livermore and Leeds responded to the blaze, which was reported by an owner Monday at 10:12 a.m.

Firefighters used a portable pump to get water from the Androscoggin River, Hardy said.

A small pile of wood also caught fire and was extinguished.

dperry@sunjournal.com