WATERVILLE — Four adults and three children are alive because smoke detectors in their building alerted them early Monday to escape a fire that left them homeless.

The fire, reported at 12:03 a.m., appears to have started in the first-floor laundry room of the two-story, two-apartment building, said fire Lt. John Gromek, who called it “an accidental fire.”

The building’s owner, Nicholas White, 25, lived on the first floor with his wife, Deidre, also 25, and their three girls, Amber, 6, Mercedes, 3, and Evangeline, 1.

Deidre’s sister, Rachel Reid, 17, and her husband, Jacob, 20, lived upstairs. All escaped the fire, but the Whites lost two angora rabbits. The family had their fur for spinning wool for hats and other items, Nicholas White said.

Functioning smoke detectors saved their lives, said Gromek.

About 40 firefighters from Waterville and Winslow battled the fire in frigid temperatures, finishing their work at 4:16 a.m.

Gromek said the fire appears to have started in or near a clothes dryer.

Fire Chief David LaFountain said the insurance company will decide if the house is a total loss. “From what I’ve seen, I can’t imagine a whole lot being salvaged,” he said.

Nicholas White said the couple had bought the clothes dryer new in 2007, two years before they moved to King Street.

Morning Sentinel Staff Writer Amy Calder can be contacted at 861-9247 or at: acalder@centralmaine.com