Waterville Woman Seriously Injured in Thursday Evening Fire

According to a press release from the Maine Department of Public Safety's Shannon Moss, a woman was seriously injured Thursday evening after a fire broke out inside a home on Washington Street in Waterville.

The Waterville Fire Department was called to 35 Washington Street at about 7:05 PM after a passerby noticed the fire and reported it.  That passerby, along with a neighbor, believed someone might be inside the house and tried to enter the residence, but heavy smoke forced them to back out before they could get in.

When firefighters arrived, crews quickly entered the home and located a woman inside. She was pulled from the house and firefighters immediately began life-saving efforts at the scene.

The woman, identified as 42-year-old Lauren Slack, was taken by Delta Ambulance to MaineGeneral’s Thayer Center in Waterville.  Because of the severity of her injuries, she was later flown by LifeFlight to Maine Medical Center in Portland.  Officials say she suffered life-threatening burn injuries.

Investigators with the State Fire Marshal’s Office determined the fire started in the living room fireplace.  According to investigators, lighter fluid had been poured onto a fire in the fireplace, which caused a flash fire that led to the injuries.

The fire caused moderate damage to the single-family home.  Several pets died, while others survived and are now being cared for by Waterville’s animal control officer.

Fire departments from Oakland and Winslow assisted at the scene, while Fairfield firefighters covered the Waterville station.  Waterville Police also helped with traffic control and the investigation.  No firefighters were injured.  The State Fire Marshal’s Office says the investigation is ongoing.