Maine Fire Investigations Span Four Counties In Single Week

Maine State Fire Marshal investigators have been criss-crossing all over the Pine Tree State this week, looking into fires in York, Androscoggin, Somerset and Penobscot Counties.

The first occurred in Penobscot County, just before 1 PM last Friday, on the Williams Road in Bradford. A fire broke out in what officials believe was the living room.

"A resident who was home at the time of the fire was able to safely evacuate. No injuries were reported as a result of the fire."

Authorities say the damage to the building was so severe that a cause could not be determined.

Another fire was reported on Sunday afternoon, in the Somerset County town of Madison. Firefighters were called to a home on the Lower Mills Road around 1:30 PM after neighbors called 911 to report smoke billowing from the inside of the structure.

"Investigators from the State Fire Marshal’s Office and local responders worked throughout the afternoon and continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fire. The cause of the fire remains under investigation...No injuries were reported."

While the home was not a complete loss, it did suffer fire and smoke damage.

Get our free mobile app

The next day, on Monday, fire crews were called to 62 Meadowbrook Drive in Waterboro at around 8 PM. They responded to find a small wildland fire. Once it was put out, they found incendiary devices on hand, and immediately called the Fire Marshal's office and the Maine Fire Service. Investigators headed to York County to check out the scene.

"During the response, firefighters discovered what appeared to be a Molotov cocktail in the debris...Investigators identified a 17-year-old juvenile as being responsible for the fire. The juvenile and the juvenile’s parents are cooperating with the investigation. "

Finally, on the evening of Tuesday September 8th, right around 9 PM, firefighters in Androscoggin County responded to a structure fire at 425 Maine Street in Lewiston. This building had already been the sight of another fire, earlier this summer, in July. After that original fire, it was condemned. Investigators deemed the initial fire accidental, but with another one taking place in the same area, just months later, they called were called back to dig into the details again.

"Following their investigation, fire investigators have determined that the September 8th fire was intentionally set and is being classified as arson. The State Fire Marshal’s Office is asking anyone who may have information regarding this fire, or who may have seen or heard anything suspicious in the area, to contact the Lewiston Fire Department’s Fire Prevention Division, the Lewiston Police Department, or the Office of the State Fire Marshal at 207-624-7076."

No one was injured in Tuesday's fire, either.