ROCKLAND — The Maine Fire Marshal’s Office is assisting Rockland Fire Department Wednesday afternoon in determining the cause of a fire that damaged a  residence at 21 Maverick St., near Burger King, Wednesday afternoon.

Determining the cause of the fire is a joint investigation of the Fire Marshal’s Office, and Rockland Fire and Police departments.

“The State Fire Marshal's Office is the lead on the investigation into the origin and cause, so I must defer to them until an official determination is made,” said Acting Rockland Fire Chief Adam Miceli in an email Thursday morning that included his report about the fire. “Again, as before, I'd note that calling the Fire Marshal's Office in is not indicative of any criminal element but a utilization of resources better trained and staffed to investigate and follow through any and all eventualities.”

Rockland firefighters were called out for a structure fire just before 2 p.m. Wednesday. The first firefighter on the scene reported smoke coming from one side of the building, prompting a third alarm and calls for mutual aid from Thomaston, South Thomaston and Rockport, and North East Mobile Health ambulance service.

“We rode here with four people,” said Miceli, in regards to the need to call other towns. “We’re all very manpower short.”

Miceli said that home is owned by Peter Collier and Carolyn Davis, and rented by Bruce Peterson and Louise Young.

According to Rockport Fire Chief Jason Peasley, in addition to numerous engines, they had 18 firefighters respond, 13 of them SCBA qualified. Thomaston sent seven or eight firefighters with an engine and their ladder truck, and South Thomaston sent five firefighters and an engine.

Miceli said Thursday morning that the response by firefighters was timely, but that had it taken one or two minutes longer before they were able to put water was put on the fire, it may have resulted in a major house fire and loss.

“Shortage of immediate personnel required doing sequentially those tasks best done simultaneously, hence the early call for outside aid,” said Miceli. He added to his report that 14 personnel from Rockland ultimately responded and that the department’s Squad 3, Tower 3, Rescue 3 and Engine 1 were utilized on scene.

They had the fire knocked down and confined within 10 minutes, reported Miceli, and a search of the building “confirmed” no occupants were inside. He said that Rockport Fire personnel were used on scene, while the responders from Thomaston and South Thomaston covered Rockland in case of other emergencies.

As of 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, the fire was reported to be extinguished and some of the mutual aid towns were being released from the scene.

Miceli said the homeowners and their dog were away from the house when a neighbor walking along the street heard the smoke detectors and figured, initially that someone was burning food, before calling 911. 

Because neighbors knew a dog lived in residence, firefighters searched the house for it. The dog arrived back at the residence with its owners about 3 p.m.

Wednesday’s wind blew toward the ocean, hiding the house fire from the upwind next-door neighbor, Asa Thompson, who said he only learned of the fire when the first fire trucks arrived on scene. He’d seen a gathering of people at the homeowner’s house this morning, but had no reason to be alarmed.

According to Miceli, 21 Maverick St. has been used as a rental property in past years. Sometimes vacationers stayed a week. Sometimes a month. The current homeowners rented the place and liked it enough to buy it. They moved in last summer, according to Thompson.

Miceli said he believes the fire started on the outside of the house, but was waiting for the state Fire Marshal’s investigation to be completed and their final determination of the cause.

Contact Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com
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