A fire heavily damaged Carrabassett Veterinary Services and killed two cats Tuesday afternoon at 1082 Main St., also known as Route 27, in Kingfield.

The business is owned and operated by the Benson family, and Dr. John Benson is listed as the primary veterinarian. It is a companion animal practice in western Maine serving Kingfield and the greater Carrabassett Valley area since 2009, according to its website.

Kingfield fire Chief Fred Nichols said one person received minor burns, but no other injuries were reported. Two cats died in the fire, he said.

As of 6 p.m., responders were still working at the scene to extinguish the fire.

Two firefighters refilling a truck from a hydrant down the road said that crews from eight different departments were working to contain the fire.

Firefighters arrived at the clinic at 3:30 p.m., Nichols said, and by 7 p.m. the building was still smoking. Nichols said the Office of State Fire Marshal is investigating the cause.

Nichols said the building was determined to be a total loss and will be demolished after the investigation is complete. He said he believes that three propane tanks behind the building were the cause of explosions that were reported.

“It’s a significant loss in the community …,” Nichols said. “It’s a very important place for the Kingfield area. Veterinary services are very thin around here, but we are one of the few that has a veterinary clinic in the western mountains.”

The Benson family released a statement Tuesday evening saying that all “clinic animals and staff are safe, thank heavens.”

They said staff will be contacting clients regarding upcoming appointments.

“We will get our phones up as soon as possible and contact you, or you can contact us to reschedule your appointments when we get a temporary clinic set up,” the statement said.

People in Facebook groups online offered prayers, and said they were sad to see that their veterinary clinic was burning.

Route 27 was closed briefly but reopened to one lane and traffic was moving slowly through the area.

A Kingfield contractor brought in an excavator to help firefighter put the fire out.

Firefighters from Kingfield, Strong, New Vineyard, Carrabassett Valley, New Portland, Phillips, Farmington and New Sharon responded to the fire.

This is a developing story.