FRIENDSHIP — Friendship Fire Chief Kevin Benner said firefighters Thursday night saved a home from catching fire after a heating lamp ignited a chicken coop next to a garage and adjoining cupola structure.

The structure fire was reported at 10:07 p.m. Nov. 15 at the Martins Point Road residence of Craig and Claire Dahlberg. Benner said the fire began in a chicken coop behind the garage, which had a three-story cupola attached to it.

"When we got there, the fire had traveled up the outside wall of the garage and cupola, up three stories" said Benner.

It took about an hour from the initial call to knock down the worst of the blaze, but Friendship firefighters, with assistance from firefighters from neighboring Cushing, Waldoboro and Warren, were able to stop the fire from spreading to the adjacent residence.

"The crews did an amazing job containing the fire, and keeping it from spreading to the house," said Benner. "All crews did a super job. It could have gone right into the house, but they kept that from happening."

Benner said Friendship relies on mutual aid, just like just about every town in the Midcoast.

An investigator from the Fire Marshal's Office was called to the residence, said Benner, and it was determined that the fire was caused by chickens knocking over the heat bulb in the coop.

"All but two chickens survived," said Benner. "We saw two dead, but the rest were all running around just fine."

No firefighters were injured battling the fire, but Benner said homeowner Craig Dahlbert suffered burns to his face.

"Mr. Dahlbert was trying to put the fire out with a garden hose before we got there and he suffered some slight burns to his forehead doing that," said Benner.

The cupola and garage sustained significant damage, including damage and destruction of "a lot" of property in both structures.

Benner said firefighters worked on putting out hot spots until around midnight, and overhauled the scene before clearing around 1 a.m.