Rockport, Maine Motel Fire Likely Caused By Smoking In Bed

The man who died in the early morning fire at a Rockport motel on Monday is 53-year-old Kevin Stanley, according to reports from the State Fire Marshal’s Office. Fire investigators say smoking is the likely cause.

“The fire started in the victim’s room on his mattress and Stanley was a heavy smoker,” said Stephen McCausland, a spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety. Seven other motel rooms were occupied and no other motel guests were injured, he said.

“Stanley’s room was gutted by the fire and the two adjoining second-floor rooms were badly damaged, as was the roof of the motel and there was extensive water damage,” McCausland said. “Stanley had lived at the motel for about a month. The motel had working smoke detectors which alerted other occupants.”

About a dozen displaced guests huddled outside the Schooner Bay Motor Inn on Route 1 Monday afternoon as fire investigators and insurance adjusters surveyed the damage.