Fire destroys apartment and garage in Dedham

Fire destroyed a multi-use building off Route 46 in Dedham Sunday afternoon.

The residence, workshop and equipment garage on Yancey Drive had multiple additions over time, according to Dedham/Lucerne Fire Chief Craig Shane.

It was the second fire in one day for the Dedham department, which had helped Brewer Fire Department earlier in the day with a kitchen fire on Lincoln Street .

The Yancey Drive fire was called in at 1:50 p.m. Sunday as a fully involved fire with people trapped inside the building. Firefighters received reports of propane tanks exploding while they were still en route.

When firefighters arrived, everyone was out of the building. One apartment resident suffered from some smoke inhalation he experienced when he went into the burning building to find his cat. The animal perished, Shane said.

Three sides of the building showed heavy fire, which was coming through the roof, Shane said, adding that ammunition and fireworks were going off inside the building.

Departments from Holden, Orrington, Eddington, Hampden, Mariaville and Brewer assisted Dedham/Lucerne.

Route 46 was closed to traffic for an hour and a half.

Shane did not have a monetary estimate of loss, but said most of it was in the value of equipment and tools. There was a welding shop in the building.

Three adults and an infant were displaced, but had family in the area so didn’t need help from the Red Cross, Shane said.

The cause of the fire has not been determined, but Shane said it was either a mechanical malfunction or from welding earlier in the day. The fire happened when the person welding went to the store to get lunch.

The fire marshal will not be called unless the owner or the insurance company requests it, Shane said.