LIVERMORE FALLS – A fire that destroyed a portion of John and Melissa Lovely’s home at 96 Depot St. Tuesday night, likely started in the clothes dryer area, Fire Chief Ken Jones said Thursday.

State fire investigator Chris Stanford has ruled it an accidental fire, he said.

The fire destroyed a one-story section of the house that contained a laundry room, bath room and spare room, the two-story section of the house had heavy smoke and water damage.

John Lovely and his daughter, Jessica, 21, were able to escape the blaze and save four of five animals. A puppy named Fluffy died in the fire.

Melissa Lovely and the couple’s two younger children were visiting Lovely’s mother’s in Farmington at the time the fire was reported at 10:16 p.m.

– Donna Perry