ROCKLAND, Maine — A fire that damaged a Mechanic Street home early Saturday morning had similarities to one that killed six people in November in Portland, Rockland’s fire chief said.
But a working smoke detector was able to alert residents of the home, preventing injuries and limiting damage, Fire Chief Adam Miceli said Saturday.
The fire was reported at 3:50 a.m. at 38 Mechanic St., a single-family rental home.
The chief said a cigarette was discarded out a window and landed behind a shelving unit on a covered porch. The cigarette ignited leaves and papers. The fire then extended to the vinyl siding.
Smoke came through an open window in the kitchen and activated a smoke detector, which alerted the residents. The residents called the fire department but were able to extinguish the blaze themselves before firefighters arrived.
The chief said the similarities to the Portland blaze were that the fires started on covered porches and interior conditions could have hampered people from escaping. He said several of the exits in the Rockland home were blocked.
He said the difference between the Portland fire was that there were working smoke detectors.
Damage was estimated at $500, the chief said.
The home is owned by Tracy and Carol Young of Succasunna, New Jersey. A mother and four children were living at the home.