JAY — A fire that destroyed one apartment and damaged three others at 12 Church St. on Sunday was most likely caused by an electrical issue, state fire investigator Jeremy Damren said Monday.

All of the tenants in the building at the time got out without injury. More than a dozen were displaced.

Two cats perished.

State and local investigators worked to determine the cause of the fire, which was ruled accidental.

Damren and state investigator Chris Stanford of the Office of the Maine State Fire Marshal’s were assisted by Jay firefighters and police in the search for a cause.

Firefighters responded to a report of a possible kitchen fire at about 9:15 a.m.  Sunday, Fire Rescue Chief Mike Booker said Monday. A first-floor tenant reported fire coming from a kitchen wall and spreading quickly throughout the building, he said.

When firefighters arrived there was heavy fire on the first floor and smoke coming from windows on the second floor.

The fire originated in the ceiling above the first-floor kitchen, Damren said.

The first-floor apartment was destroyed and the others damaged, he said. Tenants in the three other apartments will be able to get some of the contents out of the building, he said.

About 50 firefighters from several fire departments responded.

The building is owned by Jody Diaz of Jay and insured. 

The American Red Cross responded to assist the tenants.

dperry@sunmediagroup.net

A fire that damaged an apartment building at 12 Church St. in Jay on Sunday was accidental, state investigator Jeremy Damren said Monday. He said it originated in a first-floor kitchen ceiling and was ruled accidental. (Jay Fire Rescue Department)

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