A pair of fires that destroyed a home and a barn and killed three pets in Waldoboro, Friday morning, were accidental and unrelated, the state fire marshal determined.
The first fire was reported at about 2:38 a.m. at a single-story home on North Nobleboro Road. The roof ultimately collapsed in the center of the house and the front wall burned away, the state fire marshal’s office said in a news release.
The two occupants of the home were able to escape safely with one dog, but two cats and a dog died in the fire. One of the occupants, identified only as a man, was burned on his shoulders and neck and was taken to Miles Hospital in Damariscotta. A firefighter who fell through the floor was uninjured, according to the fire marshal.
The residents were using propane space heaters inside to help warm the house, but investigators from the fire marshal’s office classified the cause of the fire as undetermined due to competing accidental causes.
The second fire was reported just after 7 a.m. at a house on Friendship Road. Firefighters found a barn attached to a home “heavily involved” in fire. The two occupants of the home had already escaped and were unhurt.
Firefighters were able to contain the fire to the barn with minimal damage to the home. Investigators determined the cause of the fire was electrical and classified it as accidental.
The two fires were unrelated, the fire marshal’s office said.