MADISON — A fire that leveled a garage late Wednesday night might have been started by heat lamps used for chickens, according to the fire chief.

Roger Lightbody Jr. and Kathy Lightbody, the owners of the property, were not injured by the fire; but Roger, a retired firefighter, cut his finger badly while helping suppress the fire, French said.

The Fire Department received a call around 10:45 p.m. about a fire at 21 Young St. The garage was already “fully engulfed when we got the call,” Madison Fire Chief Don French said.

The cause is still under investigation by the state fire marshal’s office, but French said officials think the heat lamps were a factor, and it is not believed to be suspicious.

The fire destroyed the garage as well as a Chevrolet Suburban car parked in front of the garage, French said. Roger Lightbody Jr. said smaller equipment in the garage was lost, such as a riding lawnmower and a snowblower, but no big vehicles. He also said the chickens were OK and doing “surprisingly” well, and that they plan to relocate them to a friend’s property for the time being.

The garage was about 10 to 20 feet from the house, but firefighters’ first priority was to save the house, French said, so it was not damaged.

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Roger Lightbody Jr. was treated by an ambulance at the scene for the cut to his finger and was not taken to the hospital. The couple have insurance, Lightbody said.

The Madison Fire Department was assisted by the Anson and Starks fire departments and left the fire scene around 1 a.m., French said. The Skowhegan and Athens fire departments also provided station coverage during the incident.

Madeline St. Amour — 861-9239

mstamour@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @madelinestamour


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