EUSTIS — Birds perished Thursday in an early-morning fire that destroyed a garage and its contents, fire Chief Rusty Fearon said.

He said he did not know whether the birds were pets or were being raised for food. The fire likely was caused by a heat lamp placed in the garage to keep the birds warm, he said.

Eight firefighters and three trucks from Eustis and Carrabassett Valley responded to the blaze that was reported at about 5:45 a.m. on Old Dead River Road.

The two-bay garage, which had a lot of belongings in it, was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived, he said. Firefighters were able to keep the fire from a house 20 feet away, Fearon said.

June Hovey, the owner of the property, wasn’t living at the house, but some relatives were staying there, Fearon said. No people were injured.

Firefighters are investigating the cause, he said.

The garage is insured, he said.

dperry@sunjournal.com