A fire destroyed a Winthrop home Monday afternoon.
The fire broke out about 2:53 p.m. at the home off Route 41, according to Shannon Moss, a spokesperson for the Maine Department of Public Safety.
A passerby spotted the fire, and when police arrived, they alerted the homeowner, who escaped along with his three dogs, Moss said Wednesday evening.
Firefighters from eight towns fought the flames and brought them under control.
Two firefighters were taken to MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta, where they were treated for heat-related illnesses and released. The homeowner and his dogs weren’t injured.
The fire caused significant damage to the home.
Investigators believe the fire started in a dry mulch pile adjacent to or beneath the front deck and was caused by discarded smoking material.