Auburn, Maine Senior Housing Fire: Sprinklers Flood Lower Floors

A fire that started on a stove in a top-floor apartment in Auburn, Maine, was put out quickly by the building's sprinklers, but the water that saved the building also forced dozens of older and disabled residents from their homes. The incident on Sunday, Oct. 25 is a reminder that fire damage in an apartment building is not always caused by flames.

What happened

The fire broke out at about 4:30 p.m. Sunday at Lake Auburn Towne House, 74 Lake Auburn Avenue, WGME and WABI reported. The building is a six-story public housing tower next to Washburn Elementary School with 86 units, 32 efficiencies and 54 one-bedrooms. WABI said the Auburn Housing Authority owns it and that it serves residents 62 and older and people with disabilities.

The Auburn Fire Department said the fire started on a cooktop in a top-floor apartment. WGME reported that the flames were extinguished quickly, but the sprinkler system activated and caused significant damage on the lower floors. Residents were evacuated to a nearby elementary school, and many were allowed back into their apartments about six hours later, according to WGME. No injuries were reported in the coverage we reviewed.

Counting the displaced

The numbers differ because outlets reported different measures. WABI said the Red Cross initially counted 76 people displaced, but many returned home or found other places to stay, and about 18 could not find a place on their own. WGME reported that 12 residents spent Sunday night at a Red Cross shelter, and that the fire department said 42 units were uninhabitable at first. By Monday afternoon, 10 of those units were still unusable.

WABI reported that the Red Cross, responding to a request from the city, set up an emergency shelter on Mill Street, in the Auburn Drop-In Center building, with eight disaster volunteers; it opened at 11 p.m. Sunday. WGME said the shelter closed Monday morning. Sophie Piconi, executive director of the Red Cross Central and Mid Coast Maine Chapter, told WABI that losing access to a home with no warning is "incredibly stressful."

What help is available

According to WGME, the housing authority, the Red Cross and city officials are coordinating help for the residents who are still out of their homes. Affected residents can call the Red Cross at 1-800-733-2767, which WABI also listed.

What this means for renters

The fire was small, but the effect on residents was not. Sprinklers are widely credited with limiting fire spread, and this building is a case in point. They can also cause water damage well below the fire, and many tenants, especially those on fixed incomes, have no insurance to cover it.

• Consider renters insurance even in subsidized housing. Landlord policies generally cover the building, not your belongings. A tenant policy can cover items damaged by smoke or sprinkler water and pay for temporary housing if you cannot stay. Basic policies are often inexpensive. Read our guide to coverage after a fire.
• Never leave a cooktop unattended. Cooking is among the leading causes of apartment fires, and our fire safety guide covers prevention and escape planning.
• Photograph your belongings now and keep medications, IDs and key papers together in a grab bag.
• If you are displaced from public housing, ask the housing authority in writing about transfer options, how long you will be out, and what happens with your rent in the meantime. Residents with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations, such as a unit on a lower floor.
• Report damage promptly and keep copies of every message with management and receipts for out-of-pocket costs.

We will update this story if officials release more detail on the damage or when the remaining residents are able to return.