A trio of squatters fled from an abandoned home in Augusta on Saturday after it caught fire, authorities say.
[RELATED: Fire Marshal’s Office Investigating Falmouth House Fire…]
Firefighters responded to the blaze at 33 Pike Street on Saturday afternoon after callers reported seeing three men fleeing from a burning single-family residence, despite the home being abandoned at the time.
The Fire Department was able to extinguish the flames, and no one was injured in the fire, though the cause remains under investigation by the State Fire Marshal.
The Fire Marshal’s Office spoke with two of the squatters, who reported that the fire had been started by a 20-pound propane tank connected to a portable heater. The squatters were apparently using the propane-fueled heater inside the building.
According to the squatters, the hose connecting the tank to the heater came into contact with an open flame from a lit candle, sparking the conflagration.
The Fire Marshal’s Office has identified and interviewed all individuals who were present at the time of the fire and has filed no charges at this time.
