Two People Die in Separate House Fires Sunday Night

Fire Officials say two people lost their lives to fires in Waterville and Gorham Sunday night.

Public Safety spokesman Steve McCausland says the fire in Gorham claimed the life of 55-year-old Barry Dunlap. Fire investigators say it appears he was deep frying on the kitchen stove at his home on Bear Run, when the oil caught fire and ignited the kitchen cabinets.

Investigators say it appears Dunlap tried to put the fire out and suffered severe burns as a result. He was found on the kitchen floor by firefighters and efforts to revive him were unsuccessful. The fire broke out at about 6:45 Sunday night and was reported by a neighbor.

The second fatal fire occurred early this morning in Waterville. Firefighters found the body of 60-year-old David Chamberlain in the rubble of his mobile home on Pooler Parkway. A neighbor discovered the fire at about 3:30 this morning and firefighters say the building was fully engulfed when they arrived.

Investigators are still working to try and pinpoint the cause of the fire, which destroyed the mobile home. Chamberlain's body was located near his bedroom.

McCausland says these are the state's first two fatal fires of 2016.