RICHMOND, Maine — A Richmond woman and her infant daughter were taken to MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta to be checked for smoke inhalation after their Brunswick Road home caught fire Thursday morning.
Just after 7:30 a.m., firefighters from Richmond, Litchfield, Gardiner, Dresden, Bowdoin and Bowdoinham were called to the fire at Brunswick Road, also known as Route 201, not far from Alexander Reed Road.
Richmond Fire Chief Matt Roberge said that when he arrived, smoke was coming from the attic eaves and he could see a burn mark on one side of the building.
Jobinn McDowell and her 6-month-old daughter were home at the time the fire broke out, but Roberge said everyone got out, and the mother and child were taken to the hospital as a precaution to be checked for smoke inhalation.
Firefighters used 200 to 300 gallons of water to douse the fire, which was contained mainly to the kitchen area. Investigators said it started in a deep fryer on a stove.
Tim Arnold, who lives behind the house, was leaving his home when he saw smoke coming from the building.
“I was just backing up, and I see smoke coming out, and then I see Jobinn come out and throw the baby in the truck, and then she went back in, so I hurried right down there,” Arnold said. “Next thing I know, I see a flash of fire. It went right through the door.”
Roberge said McDowell suffered minor burns to her fingers. He said the kitchen will have to be replaced and the rest of the house cleaned from smoke and water damage.
The state fire marshal’s office determined the blaze to be accidental.
Another neighbor, Robert Jolly, said that McDowell and her daughter had returned home Thursday afternoon and are being assisted by the American Red Cross.
Jolly said a dog was rescued, one cat died in the fire and another is unaccounted for. A third cat, Zoe, was rescued and was suffering from smoke inhalation. Jolly and a North East Ambulance paramedic gave the cat oxygen. Jolly took Zoe to Winthrop Animal Hospital where it remains but should be fine.