GREENE — The home of a local doctor was destroyed Thursday afternoon as flames engulfed it, burning it to the ground.
The house is owned by Gregory D’Augustine, a retired Lewiston-Auburn surgeon, and his wife. Both were safe and unharmed, according to a witness at the scene.
Fire crews from Greene and several area towns were called about 1 p.m. to 39 Beau Drive for a report that the two-story home off North River Road was in flames.
D’Augustine said he was working on a tractor up the road when his wife came home and reported she was seeing smoke. When the pair went home, they found it ablaze.
Greene Fire Chief John Soucy said the fire likely started in a compost pile up against the garage, although the investigation was ongoing. As compost breaks down, it can get hot enough to ignite a fire, fire officials said.
The couple’s dog, which had initially been unaccounted for, did not die in the fire, Soucy said. No pets were lost in the blaze and no injuries were reported.
Greene firefighters battled the blaze with the help of fire crews from several area towns, including Leeds, Monmouth, Sabattus, Buckfield, Turner, Wales, Litchfield.
Beau Drive is a dead end road off North River Road. The D’Augustine home sits at the end of the drive.
