Smoke billows to the sky as firefighters work to extinguish a structure fire at 334 Rockland Road in Jefferson the evening of Wednesday, Dec. 28. (Alexander Violo photo)
Firefighters from Lincoln, Kennebec, and Knox counties fought a structure fire at 334 Rockland Road (Route 17) in Jefferson the evening of Wednesday, Dec. 28.
According to Jefferson Fire Chief Walter Morris, the building, a two-story structure with a garage on the ground floor and an apartment on the second level, is a total loss.
Two injuries were reported, Morris said. One individual was transported to the hospital with chest pain, and another was evaluated at the scene for minor burns to the individual’s hands.
Morris said all of the building’s occupants have been accounted for.
Morris said Jefferson first responders and Waldoboro Emergency Medical Services treated the individual who was experiencing chest pains, while Windsor Rescue checked out the occupant with minor burns at the scene.
The fire chief said that as he approached the fire from Route 17, in his vehicle, he could see the glow from the blaze, and before emergency responders arrived on scene, the building’s roof had collapsed.
Morris said that since the engulfed building was surrounded by a number of outbuildings, three shed-like structures of various sizes, and in the proximity of another house on the property, his immediate concern was preventing the fire from spreading.
He said the fire spread to two of the outlying buildings, substantially damaging one and causing some damage to the other.
Morris said crews prevented the fire from spreading to a third outlying structure and were working to completely snuff out what remained of the blaze.
“We are going to keep tearing the debris apart and extinguish the remaining parts of the fire,” Morris said.
Joining Jefferson Fire and Rescue on the scene were crews from Nobleboro, Somerville, Waldoboro, Washington, Whitefield, and Windsor.
Route 17 was closed while crews work to extinguish the blaze with units from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office directing traffic.
The cause of the fire is currently unknown, Morris said. The Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office has been contacted.
The Lincoln County Communications Center dispatched Jefferson Fire and Rescue around 4:45 p.m.
The names and conditions of those in the building at the time of the fire were not immediately available.
The Lincoln County News will update this post.
Firefighters from Lincoln, Kennebec, and Knox counties responded to the scene of a structure fire at 334 Rockland Road (Route 17) in Jefferson on Wednesday, Dec. 28.
According to Jefferson Fire Chief Walter Morris, the building, a two-story structure with a garage and an apartment on the ground floor and an apartment on the second level, is a total loss.
Philip Glidden, a resident of a house on the same property, was transported to an area hospital with chest pain by Waldoboro Emergency Medical Services, Morris said. Glidden was able to return to the scene later the same evening.
The fire chief said Brad Hayden, the resident of the top-floor apartment, was evaluated at the scene for minor burns to his hands.
Morris said the building’s other occupant was accounted for at the scene. Mike Norton lived in the ground-floor apartment, an addition to the garage.
Morris said Jefferson Fire and Rescue and Waldoboro EMS treated Glidden and Windsor Rescue checked out Hayden.
The fire chief said that as he approached the fire in his vehicle on Route 17, he could see the glow from the blaze. Before emergency responders arrived, the building’s roof had collapsed.
Morris said that since the engulfed building was surrounded by three shed-like structures of various sizes and was in the proximity of another house, his immediate concern was preventing the fire from spreading.
He said the fire spread to two of the outlying buildings, substantially damaging one and causing some damage to the other.
Morris said crews prevented the fire from spreading to a third outbuilding.
According to Investigator Mary-Ann MacMaster, of the Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office, the cause of the fire is undetermined due to the extent of damage.
Joining Jefferson Fire and Rescue on the scene were crews from Nobleboro, Somerville, Waldoboro, Washington, Whitefield, and Windsor.
Route 17 was closed, with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office directing traffic, while crews worked to extinguish the blaze.
Morris said the American Red Cross has been in contact with Hayden and Norton.
Morris said mutual-aid crews cleared the scene around 7:30 p.m. and Jefferson Fire and Rescue kept an engine on scene until roughly 10 p.m.
The fire chief said the fire had gotten under the wooden floor separating the garage from the ground-floor apartment, necessitating the use of an excavator to remove debris before the fire could be completely extinguished.
Morris said he believes the fire started in the ground-level addition, attached to the rear of the garage.
He lauded the work of responding agencies from neighboring towns.
“The firefighters did a great job. It’s nice to have all the departments working together,” Morris said.
Morris said he was especially thankful for the work of a Central Maine Power Co. employee.
“CMP was excellent. They cut the power for us and hung around the scene to see if they could provide any assistance. Following the fire, they examined the wires for damage and were able to get power back to the house,” Morris said.
The Lincoln County Communications Center paged Jefferson Fire and Rescue around 4:45 p.m.
