A cat allegedly started the blaze that destroyed a Unity flower shop over the weekend.
The feline was allegedly playing with a cardboard box atop a gas stove about 6:51 a.m. Saturday when it apparently turned it on while jumping off, according to the Waterville Morning Sentinel.
When firefighters arrived at the scene, the cat was spotted running away.
The fire destroyed the home, greenhouse and Unity Flower Shop on Depot Street. The home was in the owners’ family for generations.
The owners escaped without injury.
It’s unclear whether the cat was injured in the fire.
“Cats are known for hiding,” Unity firefighter John Levers told the Sentinel.