LINCOLNVILLE — A few more minutes and the outcome for a house in Lincolnville would have been completely different, April 6, 2024. 

At approximately 4:30 p.m., a homeowner happened to be sitting in his pickup truck, with the engine running, at 109 Benson Boulevard when the truck caught fire, according to fire Chief Don Fullington III. The man jumped out, picked up some snow and tossed it on the flames. Realizing immediately that his action was ineffective, he dialed 911. 

“It’s probably what saved his house,” said Fullington. 

Not lingering for more than those two minutes between noticing the flames and making the call set Lincolnville Fire Dept. en route. And, therefore, when the now-fully involved fire quickly found its way up the exterior of the house, retired fire chief Ben Hazen was only a few minutes away. 

Firefighters from Lincolnville pulled a 2.5 inch hose and saturated the area as more help loaded into trucks in Northport, Camden and Hope.

Arriving apparatus staged on the slightly larger Brodis Road since Benson Boulevard is a one-lane road up a long, twisty hill. The length and steepness challenged the fully-geared firefighters, several of whom, arriving first, attempted to run the first half before realizing how much farther they’d need to go, and slowed to a walk.

Nevertheless, the house was saved.

“Very fortunate,” said Fullington. “Very very fortunate.”

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com