
A Winslow firefighter battles a blaze Tuesday at a two-story building at 388 East Benton Road in Benton. Photo courtesty of the Fairfield and Benton Fire-Rescue Department
FAIRFIELD — Two fires that were reported an hour apart Tuesday in Fairfield and Benton prompted a broad response from area fire departments, according to officials.
More than 20 firefighters from Fairfield, Waterville, Winslow and Oakland responded to the first fire, while firefighters from Norridgewock covered Fairfield’s fire station.
About an hour into the first fire call, the Norridgewock Fire Department’s services were needed — along with five other departments — when a blaze was reported in Benton.
The first blaze, which was reported at 3:41 p.m. at 9 Kelley St. in Fairfield, was a chimney fire that spread throughout the house’s first and second floors. The flames caused extensive damage, beginning in the basement and spreading to the roof, according to Chief Travis Leary of the Fairfield and Benton Fire-Rescue Department.
The house had an attached apartment in the back, which was untouched by the flames, but had water and smoke damage.
None of the four adults and three children living at the house was injured, Leary said, but the house can no longer be occupied due to the damage. The American Red Cross was called in to assist the residents.
Fairfield’s real estate tax commitment book shows an apartment at 9 Kelley St. is owned by Meon and Chiuli Stephenson.
The cause of the fire was ruled accidental, Leary said.
At 4:45 p.m., a fire in a garage and workshop space with an upstairs apartment was reported at 388 East Benton Road in Benton. It was apparently caused by an electrical malfunction in the first-floor ceiling, Leary said, and ruled accidental.
The property is owned by Kathleen S. Jacob, according to Benton’s 2025 tax commitment book. Leary said the two-story apartment had multiple uses.
“It was a workshop-type little garage that the homeowner had, and then had an apartment for if a friend comes to stay, basically, is what I gathered,” Leary said.
The garage space and apartment sustained significant damage, Leary said, but there were no injuries.

Equipment is cleaned Tuesday at Fairfield’s fire station after 10 departments battled fires in Fairfield and Benton. Photo courtesy of the Fairfield and Benton Fire-Rescue Department
With four departments fighting the fire in Fairfield, the Benton fire required assistance from other departments, including Albion, Clinton, South China and Vassalboro.
A crew from the Winslow Fire Department also responded to the second fire, with Deputy Fire Chief Michael Murphy taking charge at the scene.
Firefighters from Sidney and Skowhegan moved to cover Fairfield’s station, which included responding to two medical calls.
All of the fire trucks were back in service by 9 p.m., Leary said.
“Great job to all the mutual aid departments,” Leary said. “They kind of covered us, because obviously we couldn’t leave the first fire call.”
This story was updated to credit the photos to the Fairfield and Benton Fire-Rescue Department.
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