ELLIOTSVILLE PLANTATION — The elderly couple who died early Saturday morning in a fire that destroyed their home have been identified as George Beety, 78, and Laurette Beety, 79.
The one-story home on Elliotsville Road was in flames when crews arrived after the 911 call came in at 1:16 a.m. Saturday, Monson Fire Chief Eric Melia said Saturday. It was under control by about 4 a.m.
Monson provides fire service to the adjacent community.
A dog escaped the blaze, the chief said.
The fire was spotted by a neighbor, according to a press release issued Saturday night by the fire marshal’s office. Both bodies were found in or near the living room of the house and it appears the couple were attempting to escape the fire.
The fire started in the dining room and although the cause cannot be determined because of the extensive damage, the wood stove was located there, the press release said. The house was a former seasonal camp that had been converted to a year-round residence and only a couple of walls were left standing.
The Monson fire chief said that half a dozen other departments responded due to the frigid temperatures.
“We had a lot of water problems,” Melia said. “We froze up just about every tank truck in the county.”
Firefighters from Guilford, Shirley, Sangerville, Dover-Foxcroft, Greenville and Dexter assisted Monson at the scene.
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