Michael Keith, 66, of Augusta has been identified as the decesed male in a house fire at 347 Riverside Drive that happened yesterday afternoon according to a press release issued by Shannon Moss, Public Information Officer, for the Maine Department of Public Safety, Augusta this afternoon.

On Thursday, February 19, 2026 at approximaely 2:03 pm., the Augusta Fire Department responded to a report of a house fire at 347 Riverside Drive.  Upon arrival, firefighters located a fire in the basement of a single-famly home and discovered that a male occupant was outside the home that had sustained severe burns during the incident.

The male, identified in a second press release today from Ms. Moss, identified him as Michael Keith, 66 of the Riverside Drive address, was transported to Maine General Hospital in Augusta and was subsequently transported by LifeFlight to Maine Medical Center for treatment of life-threatening injuries – where the MSP announced in its second press release on the subject today, of his death from his injuries.

Fire investigators have determined the origin of the fire was in the basement and the cause is ignitable liquids being accidently ignited near the chimney cleanout door.  The investigation is ongoing.