WATERVILLE — A house on Washington Street was damaged in a fire Thursday morning, but two residents were able to get out without injury after a passing motorist alerted them to the fire.

Derek Poirier, of Belgrade, and his girlfriend, Kami Thorpe, were on their way to Colby College around 11:15 a.m. to get lunch with Poirier’s mother when they saw thick black smoke coming from the house at 29 Washington St.

The house belongs to Mary Slack and her daughter, Lauren, said Capt. John Gromek of the Waterville Fire Department.

“I saw a car and the garage on fire, and I jumped out and ran in the house,” Poirier, 34, said. “I don’t know if I even knocked. Maybe I knocked once and said hello.”

Poirier helped the Slacks and their dog get out of the house and had them get in his car with Thorpe.

The fire was started by an electrical problem in the unattached garage behind the house, according to Gromek. The fire destroyed the garage and a 2014 Nissan Versa parked outside.

It also spread to the back corner of the house and caused damage, although the house will be inhabitable, Gromek said.

As firefighters battled the blaze in the back of the house, the women watched from Poirier’s car. They declined to comment except to say they were thankful for the couple’s help.

“I’m glad I did it,” Poirier said. “The one woman, she must have just woken up or something, and she was looking for her shoes. I didn’t want to be mean (by telling them to get out), but I just wanted to get them out.”

“I can’t believe I did that,” Poirier said. “I wouldn’t believe I would do something like that until the time came. The car wasn’t even stopped and I just got out.”

Firefighters from Fairfield, Oakland and Winslow and the Waterville Police Department assisted.

Rachel Ohm — 612-2368

rohm@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @rachel_ohm

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