WARREN – A woman who was transported to Maine Medical Center following a house fire, Monday, Oct. 22, is in good condition, and is expected to make a full recovery, according to her husband.

Marika Crockett suffered first and second-degree burns to her head, along with smoke inhalation, as she approached the front door, just prior to 5:30 a.m.

The front door was the area closest to the living room, where the 1140 Oyster River Road fire is believed to have started.

“I had to pull her back down the hallway so we could escape through the bedroom window,” said her husband, Richard Crockett, Wednesday.

Richard suffered a slight burn to the face and very minor smoke inhalation, and his adult son, Dylan, came away with a few minor burns that did not require treatment.

The family cats were both found safe the next day, and are doing well.

And though Marika suffered the worst injuries of the three, it is she who is credited for the family’s overall survival.

“She is still the real hero of this story. If she hadn’t woken up when she did, none of us would have made it out alive,” Richard said.

“We got out just in time.”

WARREN – A fire in a home on the Oyster River Road that required medical transportation of one woman via LifeFlight helicopter to a larger hospital, is being blamed on an electric space heater too close to combustible items.

According to Joel Davis, sergeant with the Central Division of the state Fire Marshal’s Office, the cause was likely the space heater, which is what the homeowner had mentioned to Warren Fire Chief Greg Andrews.

Just before 5:30 a.m., Monday, Oct. 22, Richard Crockett, his wife Marika, and their adult son, Dylan, evacuated the burning house through a rear window to avoid the fire, which is believed to have started in the living room, according to a family member. 

All three were transported to Pen Bay Medical Center, in Rockport. From there, Marika was transported via LifeFlight to Portland because of respiratory burns to her airway and head, according to the family member.

Richard was released from PBMC after a short observation period, and Dylan was uninjured, said the family member.

A cat was reported to have been in the house during the fire. That cat has not been found, according to Chief Andrews.

The living room was filled with items, many of which were still smoldering after the fire extinguished, requiring firefighters to use a backhoe to clear the space.

WARREN — Due to injuries suffered during a morning fire in Warren, Monday, Oct. 22, the State Fire Marshal’s Office has been called to investigate.

At approximately 5:30 a.m., Knox County Communications Center received a report of fire at 1140 Oyster River Road. Upon arrival, Warren emergency medical services transported all three occupants to an area hospital with at least one incident of burns.

Crews from Warren, Union, and Waldoboro arrived to find smoke coming from the house; however, trees and brush alongside the road kept flames hidden until responders got much closer to the two-story structure, according to Warren Fire Chief Greg Andrews.

“When we got here, we opened the front door and there was fire just inside the front door and in the kitchen,” he said.

The flames were extinguished within 20 minutes of the initial call.

Firefighters had to push items out of the entry way in order to work inside the house. 

All remaining units left the scene by 9 a.m.

This article will be updated as details become available.

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com