The attic of a large house at 52 Depot St. in Waldoboro caught fire from what firefighters believe may have started from a chimney early in the morning of Dec. 26. The fire in the house occupied by husband and wife Yancy and Sarah Harvey and their eight children erupted just before 2 a.m., according to Waldoboro Fire Chief Ernest Vannah.
Vannah said all the occupants evacuated the house and there were no injuries as a result of the fire. He said the fire could also have originated from some wiring in the attic and some sort of electric failure occurred, sparking the blaze.
Jefferson and Bristol fire departments were called to stand-by at a time when a fire in Boothbay had also erupted. Waldoboro firefighters were able to extinguish the fire, which was contained to the attic, and saved the house within a couple of hours. Fire department personnel cleared the area by around 4 a.m.
“He was thankful he still had a home,” Vannah said of the homeowner, adding there was some smoke and water damage that needed to be assessed for insurance purposes.
Vannah later stated in a telephone interview that damage to the Harvey home was found to be more extensive following the next-day assessment. The family could not be contacted before press time.
