Town of New Gloucester, Maine
New Gloucester Fire Rescue
Press Release
Prepared by: Captain Hale Fitzgerald
Number of Alarms: Severe Weather Event/Multiple Calls
Incident Commander: Interim Chief Bouchard
Incident Number: 22-NG0636-NG0663
Incident Date and Time: 12/23/2022, 0934 (First Call), 2112 (Last Call)
Incident Location: Multiple throughout the community
NGFR apparatus in response:
Engine 2 (11 responses)
Engine 3 (6 responses)
Utility 1 (18 responses)
Ambulance 1 (5 responses)
Tank 2 (2 responses)
Number of NGFR personnel in response: 12 members responded to at least one call
General Incident Description: From approximately 9:30 this morning through just after 9:00 this evening, members of the New Gloucester Fire Rescue responded to multiple calls of service throughout town. Members worked in high winds and heavy rains to ensure the safety of the community. During this storm, we had the following calls:
- 2 reported structure fires
- 3 alarm activations
- 1 report of flooding
- 2 trees blocking the roadway
- 1 tree that fell on a house
- 17 reports of wires down
- 1 medical call
The two reported structure fires ended up being electrical fires out on arrival. The report of flooding went unfounded. Both trees blocking the roadway were removed. The tree that fell on a house resulted in a damaged window.
Of the wires down calls, Lewiston Road was closed for an extended period in two separate locations at two separate times. Sabbathday Road was closed and still is at the time of this report. McKenney Drive was closed and still is at the time of this report. Ayer Road was closed for an extended period of time. Jack Hall Road was closed for an extended period of time. Many other roads have been down to one lane.
Mutual Aid to the Scene: Gray Engine 41 responded to a reported building fire and was canceled enroute
Mutual Aid to the Station: None
Injuries: None
Factors: Severe Storm with High Winds and Heavy Rain
PSA: No line is safe to touch. If there is a wire down, call 911 and the fire department will respond. Roads are closed for the public’s safety. Multiple times today cones and barricades were moved, run over, or damaged by the public to get past road closures. They are placed where they are for a reason. Please, do not move any cones. If you have any questions regarding road closures, you’re free to call our non-emergency line at 207-926-4142, and we can answer your question.
Future Hazards: The temperature will drop significantly today to a low around 14 degrees. Please be aware of black ice and slippery conditions. Please heat homes safely and be aware of the hazards of carbon monoxide. A warming shelter is set up at the AMVETS at 1095 Lewiston Road tomorrow morning at 7am. There is a regional emergency shelter at St. Joseph’s College that opened at 7pm this evening. The address is 278 White’s Bridge Road in Standish.
To report an emergency, please dial 911. To report power outages, please call CMP’s line to report outages at 800-696-1000. For non-emergent questions that are fire department related, you can call our non-emergency line at 207-926-4142.
Special Thanks: Special thanks to the CCRCC who did a very professional and thorough job handling multiple calls and coordinating response efforts with the fire department. We would also like to thank CMP and their contractors for prompt responses in town and hard work to make environments safe for the public, as well as restore power. Thank you to our public works department for assistance during the storm. Thank you to the CCSO for responded as needed throughout today’s storm as well.
Hale Fitzgerald
Captain/Paramedic
New Gloucester Fire Rescue
611 Lewiston Road
New Gloucester, ME 04260
207-926-4142
