WATERVILLE, Maine — An early-morning fire left eight people, including several children, without a home after a blaze ripped through a King Street apartment building Monday.
Waterville Fire Chief David LaFountain said the fire, which broke out just after midnight, apparently started in a clothes dryer.
The building had two apartments, according to LaFountain, and all of the tenants are from the same family. Some escaped wearing only their underwear, but it could have been a lot worse, he said.
“A good save for the smoke detectors to the point where the people got out with their lives,” he said.
LaFountain called the damage to the building extensive. He said he “wouldn’t be surprised if the insurance company completely totaled the building.”
Roughly 40 firefighters from Waterville and Winslow fought the blaze, while Fairfield firefighters covered Waterville’s station.
An ambulance crew was on the scene to make sure families stayed warm during the brutally cold night.
“One of our concerns [was] these people got out quickly and didn’t have the keys to their car,” said LaFountain.
The State Fire Marshal’s Office has been called in to investigate and was expected on the scene early Monday afternoon, LaFountain said.
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I checked mine last week and was amazed how much there was to clean out. Your suggestion is a good one, it could save a home and lives!!!
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So happy they made it out ok, but having lost everything is awful. That’s a large family to be put out of home.
Where is the photo of these eight like the one of the photogenic other recent homeless fire victims?
Let’s see if this family’s story gets the same days long front page attention and begathon that they,too, deserve.