Town of New Gloucester, Maine
New Gloucester Fire Rescue | Press Release
Prepared by: Interim Chief Craig Bouchard
Number of Alarms: 2
Incident Commander: Interim Chief Craig Bouchard
Incident Number: 23-NG0104
Incident Date and Time: 03/11/2023 at 08:35
Incident Location: 170 Sabbathday Rd
Number of NGFR Engines in response: One
Number of NGFR Tankers in response: Two
Other NGFR apparatus in response: One
Number of NGFR personnel in response: 10
First NGFR unit on scene: Engine 2
General Incident Description:
New Gloucester Fire Rescue responded to 170 Sabbathday Rd. for a reported trailer on fire with possibly 4 people trapped inside. The initial alarm included Engine 2, Tank 1, Tank 2, Utility 1, Gray Truck 44, North Yarmouth Tank 53 and North Yarmouth Engine 52. Car 7 while enroute to the scene upgraded the Desk box to an All Hands with the report of people possibly trapped inside. This added an Engine and Battalion Chief from Auburn for RIT and Poland Engine 3 for water supply.
Engine 2 arrived on scene five minutes after being dispatched to find a well involved single wide trailer fire. Fire was out the front kitchen windows and windows near the front door. Engine 2’s crew, with 2 additional members who showed up on scene, initially stretched a 1 3/4 inch line to attack the fire, having water on the fire within two minutes of arriving on scene. Members of the first in attack line were able to split off, searching the immediate area near the fire. A search crew entered soon after, performing an aggressive primary search in difficult conditions. The search crew was able to locate two pets inside the structure and removed them quickly. Unfortunately, the pets had succumbed to smoke inhalation. Due to the nature of the call and reports of victims, ambulances from Raymond and Windham were requested, and Life Flight of Maine was placed on standby. Once the primary search had an all clear of the building, these resources were released by command.
The fire proved to be stubborn as the fire had extended under an additional pitched roof that was added over the trailer, crew work for three hours to extinguishing hot spots and overhauling.
Water supply was established via tankers and a fill site at Dry Mills Station in Gray. Poland Chief 520 was assigned to water supply which included 5 area tankers.
The fire was under control at 10:40 and crews remained on scene overhauling. The box was recalled at 12:50.
New Gloucester Fire Rescue was also assisted by the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office and the Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Mutual Aid to the Scene: Gray, North Yarmouth, Raymond, Poland, Auburn, Windham.
Mutual Aid to the Station: Pownal.
Smoke Detectors Present? Yes
Smoke Detectors Working? Yes
Sprinkler System Present? No
Sprinkler System Function? N/A
Injuries: None
PSA: A house fire can double in size every 30 seconds (source: Utah Fire Marshal’s Office). Early notification allows our responders to respond and arrive on scene to begin to mitigate the emergency. If you need to report a fire, please dial 9-1-1.
Contact Info:
Interim Chief Craig Bouchard
deputychief@newgloucester.com
207-233-4738
