Eastern Propane Gas Acquires Blue Flame Gas

Eastern Propane Gas, a New Hampshire corporation, acquired the business assets of R. B. Sahagen, DBA Blue Flame Gas Co., headquartered in Rangeley, Maine. Blue Flame is a full-service propane sales, delivery, and appliance business which also owns and operates a retail store offering a range of products for the home. The transaction was completed on August 29, said Cetane Associates in an announcement.

With expertise in the propane industry, Robert and Jeannine Sahagen established Blue Flame in 1998. From their initial home-based operations, they grew the business to include a bulk plant that houses an office, vehicle-repair and inventory space, and a 30,000-gallon storage tank.

The Sahagens’ son Aaron Vryhof and his wife Meagan Vryhof took on leadership roles and joined Robert and Jeannine as owners in 2008. Blue Flame grew by acquisition of a local competitor, Rangeley Propane, and a stove shop, Rangeley Fireplace & Stove Co. Growth continued for the company while building relationships with builders and contractors in northeast New England.

Blue Flame’s propane business serves residential and commercial customers in and around Franklin, Oxford, and Somerset Counties, Maine.

Co-owner Robert Sahagen comments, “Building Blue Flame Gas has been a united family effort to guarantee our customers get the best service possible. We know Eastern Propane will carry on this legacy well.”

Eastern Propane is a fourth-generation family business established in Danvers, Mass., in 1932. Under the leadership of the Clement family, the business evolved from a hardware store to selling bottled gas under the name Country Gas Distributors and expanded to become a four-state LP gas retailer and wholesaler in 1969, when the business was renamed Eastern Propane. Chuck Clement III is today the president and a co-owner of Eastern Propane. Cetane served as the arranger to Blue Flame.