Sept. 26, 2024 update: In the aftermath of the Rockbrook Drive fire, several people have contacted the Camden Fire Department for information about rechargeable battery safety. Therefore, Chief Farley has compiled some of the information and tips that he has dispensed. Scroll to the bottom of this article for the advice of CFD.

Sept. 24, 2024

CAMDEN — A homeowner had been mowing his lawn Sept. 24, 2024, when flames developed in the garage attached to his house at 17 Rockbrook Drive, in Camden.

No one was hurt, and the structure remains standing, though the Fire Marshal’s Office is now investigating what might have caused the flames that destroyed the garage, the two rooms above the garage, spreading slightly into the breezeway-type connector to the rest of the house, which suffered smoke damage throughout.

Firefighters from Camden, Lincolnville, Hope, and Rockport battled the flames, drawing water from a hydrant halfway down the steep, twisty dead-end street that connects to Route 1, across from Sea Street. And when the visible flames had been smothered, the firefighters continued on, pulling insulation from anywhere that their thermal imaging camera sensed extra heat.

North East Mobile Health Services parked nearby per firefighting policy.

Camden firefighters were last to leave the scene, returning to their station at approximately 6:15 p.m. to clean their gear. At 6:25, they were called out again briefly, along with North East, this time for a car crash involving a car going off the roads and into the woods near 428 Washington Street PI accident.

A Camden Fire Dept. Facebook posting later in the evening added more information:

The homeowners are safe and have received offers of lodging from neighbors and the fine folks at Camden Maine Stay Inn. The main part of the house is structurally sound but extensive cleaning and deodorizing will be needed. Their pets are safe, although one Firefighter received puncture wounds from a cat when he was trying to remove it from the smoke filled home.

We were hindered briefly in getting water due to extensive plantings around a fire hydrant on Rockbrook Drive. Fire safety codes require a 3 foot clearance around hydrants. Please be mindful of this when planting shrubs which obstruct acces to and visibility of hydrants.

The cause & origin of the fire is being investigated and may be attributed to rechargeable batteries.

The third picture depicts the hard work and cooperative effort put into the public safety efforts of our region's Firefighters. Job well done!

Before we were finished with this incident, our Firefighters were called to a motor vehicle accident on outer Washington Street - fortunately no one was injured there.

We appreciate our mutual aid partners.

Lithium Ion Batteries

The Camden Fire Department is working in coordination with the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA) to raise awareness about the risks associated with lithium-ion batteries and ways to minimize them. NFPA’s new campaign, “Charge into Fire Safety™”, includes an expanded series of resources, guidelines, and information in response to the concerns fire officials have about the growing number of fires caused by lithium-ion batteries that power micromobility devices such as e-bikes and e-scooters, smaller electronics such as cell phones and laptops, and electric vehicles. As the use of these items has increased in recent years, so, too, has the number of fires associated with them.

“Lithium-ion batteries are increasingly found in the many devices and systems we use every day,” said Lorraine
Carli, vice president of Outreach and Advocacy at NFPA. “With this greater use, however, we are seeing an
uptick in related fires, prompting people to contact us frequently with questions about battery safety. In
response, NFPA created the ‘Charge into Fire Safety’ campaign with information that helps answer these
questions clearly and thoroughly, in one easy-to-find location.”

NFPA and Camden Fire Department recommend these tips when buying, charging, storing, and using lithium-ion batteries to help prevent fires:

 Only purchase and use devices, batteries, and charging equipment that are listed by a nationally recognized testing lab and labeled accordingly.
 Use charging equipment that is only compatible with your device. To be safe, use only the charging equipment that is supplied with your device.
 Do not keep charging the device or device battery after it is fully charged.
 Do not put lithium-ion batteries in the trash. Recycling is always the best option. Take the batteries to a battery recycling location or contact your local waste department for disposal instructions.
 Stop using your device if the battery shows signs of damage, such as an unusual odor, excessive heat, popping sounds, swelling, or change in color.
 Only have device repairs performed by a qualified professional.

“The Camden Fire Department encourages residents to learn more about the hazards of lithium-ion batteries,” said Fire Chief Chris Farley. “By better understanding how lithium-ion battery fires start, people can take the necessary steps to minimize associated risks and safely use their electronics and other devices powered by these batteries.”

Learn more about the “Charge into Fire Safety” campaign and download free safety tip sheets at nfpa.org/lithiumionsafety.

Camden Fire Department
31 Washington Street
Camden, Maine, 04843
207-236-7950