AUGUSTA, ME — Multiple 911 calls reported a structure fire at 33 Pike Street at approximately 3:23 p.m. on Nov. 22.
One caller reported seeing three males running from the property and provided updated locations to dispatchers, allowing Augusta Police officers to quickly make contact with them.
Augusta Fire Department crews arrived to find heavy fire inside the single-family home.
Firefighters were able to suppress the blaze with assistance from the Litchfield, Vassalboro, and Winthrop Fire Departments.
No injuries were reported during fire operations.
The home, which has been vacant for some time, sustained significant fire damage.
Working with Augusta Police, investigators identified two individuals who had been squatting inside the residence.
The fire was determined to have originated from a 20-pound propane tank attached to a portable “buddy heater.”
A rubber supply hose came into contact with a lit candle, igniting the fire.
All individuals present at the time of the fire have been identified and interviewed.
No charges have been filed at this stage.
Fire Marshal Investigators will continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and will consult with the Kennebec County District Attorney’s Office in a review to determine possible criminal charges.
