A smattering of fires ignited in Maine over the past several days. On Thursday alone, the Lewiston Fire Department responded to three separate structure fires.
The first fire was in Country Lane Estates, a mobile home park. The fire, accidentally caused by an unattended candle, was quickly extinguished and caused minimal damage and no injuries, according to the Lewiston Fire Department.
The second fire was at a home on Russell Street and is under investigation by the State Fire Marshal’s Office. One firefighter was injured responding to the incident. The Lewiston Fire Department’s third fire of the day was on Lincoln Street and caused by a wood stove and resulted in no injuries.
On Saturday afternoon, Searsport Fire and EMS responded to a fire at a maintenance building for RSU 20, according to Searsport Public Safety.
After getting the emergency call at 3:35 p.m., the first units to arrive at the structure found heavy smoke and part of the roof compromised. Mutual aid was provided by Belfast Fire and EMS, Stockton Springs Fire Department, West Frankfort Fire Department and Bucksport Fire. Maine State Police and the Searsport Police Department assisted with traffic control.
Working defensively due to the structural compromise, crews were able to control the fire by 6 p.m. One school bus, one pickup truck and two other vehicles that were inside the building were destroyed, according to Searsport Public Safety.
The Maine Fire Marshall’s Office is investigating the unknown cause of the Searsport fire.
In a social media post, Interim Searsport Fire Chief A.J. Koch thanked RSU 20 bus drivers who came to move buses away from the building and left a bus running for emergency responders to warm up in.
In Belgrade around 8 p.m. on Saturday, the Belgrade Fire Department responded to a fire on French Drive, according to a social media post from the department.
Upon arrival, crews found a fire in the ceiling of the residence, and were able to quickly enter the building and extinguish the fire. The Oakland, Sidney, Smithfield, and Rome fire departments helped respond to the fire, as did Delta Ambulance.
The cause of the fire was determined to be a wood stove that caused a chimney fire. While the home did sustain damage, it can be repaired, according to the fire department.
“We also wish the owners and occupants a smooth and speedy recovery as repairs are made,” said the Belgrade Fire Department’s post.
On Saturday night, another fire occurred in Lewiston on Grove Street. The incident is being that investigated by the Office of the State Fire Marshal, with more information about the fire forthcoming.
