An over eager dog may be to blame for a Monday afternoon fire in Gardner. The Brussels-Union-Gardner Fire Department responded to reports of heavy smoke at the home on Gardner Bluff Road just after 4 p.m. The fire on top of the stove was out by the time firefighters arrived, but they assisted in ventilating it. The blaze is believed to have started when a dog accidentally turned on the stove while trying to reach dessert bars located on it, slowly cooking them before they eventually ignited. A teenager in the home noticed the fire and was able to put it out. BUG Fire Chief Curt Vandertie says there are plenty of lessons to learn from the experience.
No injuries occurred during the fire and only minor damage to the stove and surrounding cabinetry was caused.