Bangor Firefighter Burned, Kittens Rescued in Suspected House Arson

The Maine State Fire Marshall's office is investigating a fire that broke out in a home on Elm Street in Bangor early Thursday morning.

Multiple neighboring agencies were called in to help fight the blaze.

Public Safety Spokesperson Shannon Moss says authorities believe that someone set the fire on purpose.

"On Thursday, August 31, 2023, at approximately 3:43 a.m., the Bangor Fire Department responded to a structure fire at a three-unit apartment building located at 271 Elm Street in Bangor. Two people were in the building at the time of the fire and made it out without injury. Investigators from the Fire Marshal’s office were called to the scene and determined that the fire was intentionally set."

Moss says one Bangor firefighter sustained a minor burn injury while extinguishing the fire.

Get our free mobile app

Sgt. Jason McAmbley, public information officer with the Bangor Police Department, says when the authorities arrived at the residence and evacuated the people who were inside, they went back in for some animals.

"When Bangor officers Jared Fox, Nick Canarr and Sgt. Kyle Pelkey arrived at the house at about 3:45 a.m., the front of the house was in flames...They were then told the couple had cats still inside the house."

McAmbley said the officers found a reusable Walmart bag, dumped the contents out, and put the kittens they found inside, into the bag, while they grabbed the adult cat and brought all the animals out to safety.

The State Fire Marshall's office will conduct a joint investigation, Moss says, with the Bangor Police Department's Criminal Investigation Division.