WATERVILLE (AP) — Authorities said a Christmas Day fire that destroyed a flooring business and injured the owner was caused by careless disposal of wood ash.
The Waterville Fire Department said in a statement that Wednesday’s blaze at Grenier’s Classic Flooring was caused when ash from a wood stove that was put in a plastic bucket, which was placed in a shed attached to the building.
Owner Robert Grenier suffered second-degree burns on his right hand and was treated at the scene.
The building and everything in it, including carpeting, tiling, a van, a trailer, a recreational vehicle and a forklift, were lost.
The attached home was also heavily damaged.
The Morning Sentinel (http://bit.ly/Jevtuf ) reported that the state Department of Environmental Protection is testing debris at the site for environmental hazards.
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