Ashes from wood stove start fire in attached garage of Vassalboro home

VASSALBORO — Fire damage Friday evening was limited to a two-car garage attached to a home on Katie Drive.

Damage is visible during a fire Friday evening in an attached garage at 61 Katie Drive in Vassalboro. Vassalboro Fire Department

Improperly disposed wood stove ashes were discovered in an attached garage at 61 Katie Drive after the garage’s smoke detectors went off and a neighbor intervened to help the home’s occupant to safety .

The home is still habitable and no one was injured in the fire, according to Vassalboro Fire Department Chief Walker Thompson. Firefighters limited the fire damage to the attached two-car garage and the unoccupied living space above.

The fire was reported at 8:11 p.m. on Friday and firefighters remained on scene until approximately 10:30 p.m., ensuring the fire was completely extinguished. Thompson said heavy fire was on both sides of the north wall of the garage when firefighters arrived, and the flames were under control in about 15 minutes.

The sole occupant of the house was alerted by smoke detectors installed in the garage, connected to the house’s alarm system.

Thompson did not have the name of the woman who lived in the home Saturday, but said she heard the smoke detectors go off but did not see the fire in the garage. She called a neighbor to help her determine why the fire alarm system was going off. The neighbor spotted the fire and came to help the occupant get out of the house.

“Luckily, the smoke detectors were linked together in the house and garage and went off and alerted her,” Thompson said. “She called the neighbor who helped her get out because she didn’t know what was going on in the garage.”

Smoke is seen Friday evening coming from the second story window of a garage located at 61 Katie Drive in Vassalboro. Vassalboro Fire Department

According to Thompson, the fire started with wood stove ashes improperly dumped inside the garage, which caught the garage on fire. The fire spread to the second floor of the garage, which was an unoccupied living space, as well as the attic. The flames were extinguished before the fire spread to the adjoining house.

Thompson said the garage is salvageable but will require repairs. Smoke, fire and water damage was limited to the garage. The property is insured.

“We were able to save the house, the firefighters did a great job stopping the fire where it was, everyone did a great job,” Thompson said.

Winslow and Waterville firefighters were called to the scene. Central Maine Power Co. and Delta Ambulance also assisted.