JAY — A fire last week that heavily damaged a house and claimed the lives of two cats was accidental Jay Fire Rescue chief Mike Booker said Monday.
“The stove was found to be on,” Corey Leclerc, deputy fire chief, said. “We are not sure how it was turned on.”
Fire officials learned one of the cats and a dog liked to chase each other and that may be how the burner was turned on, Booker said. He was working in Mexico and not at the scene at 43 Jewell St. on Thursday.
Firefighters vent the roof of a home Thursday at 43 Jewell St. in Jay. The cause — a stove burner was on — was ruled accidental, Jay Fire Rescue chief Mike Booker said Monday. Donna M. Perry/Sun Journal
No one was at the home when the fire was reported at about 3:30 p.m.
The house is owned by Kelly McMannus and was insured.
About 35 firefighters from Jay, Livermore, Farmington, Livermore Falls and Wilton responded.
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