ROCKLAND – A fire traveling through the walls and floor/ceiling spaces of a 3.5 story, 6-unit apartment building, in Rockland, in the early morning hours of January 29, led to firefighters simultaneously battling two fires on two separate floors and at two sides of the structure.

Believed by an investigator of the state’s Fire Marshall’s Office to be electrical in nature, the fire at 666-670 Main Street initially showed itself along the wall of a third floor apartment, yet had originated in a second floor living room ceiling and then traveled inside the 2nd/3rd floor ceiling/floor void, according to Chief Chris Whytock, in a news release.

“The nature of this large woodframe building that has had numerous renovation throughout it’s history makes for many large hidden voids spaces which allow fire to travel virtually undetected,” he said. “These voids are typically difficult to access and present dangerous conditions for firefighters."

Rockland Fire Department responded to the Main Street structure, owned by Erik Nelson, following a 12:31 a.m. dispatch from 911, which was initially reported as an alarm activation. With three members of Rockland Fire and EMS’ A-shift on a medical call, A/C Mazzeo and Lt. Cole arrived by themselves and reported smoke showing from the front of the building and elevated the incident to a 1st alarm structure fire, according to the report.

“Thankfully, the hardwired smoke alarms, installed after a fire in March of 2016, woke residents and allowed them to escape unharmed,” said Whytock. 

By then, all tenants had evacuated the structure, and the crew would eventually learn that “the tenant of the third floor awoke to the alarm and found fire coming out of the wall of his bedroom, which he attempted to put out with a fire extinguisher, before evacuating,” according to the report. 

As Mazzeo and Cole raced to the third floor, where the smoke appeared to be coming from, mutual aid began arriving, with a final total of 15 personnel from Rockland bringing with them Rockland Squad 3, Tower 3, Engines 1 and 2, Rescues 1, 2, 3 and Car 1. Approximately 40 mutual aid personnel arrived from Rockport, Camden, Northeast Mobile Health, Thomaston, South Thomaston, Owls Head, Warren and Waldoboro. 

Shortly thereafter, firefighters found that the fire was actually on the second floor, in an apartment not directly below where the fire was discovered, according to the report. 

“The void space fire resulted in two holes in the floor, in two apartments, making safely accessing the fire even more dangerous,” said Whytock. 

Crews quickly began fighting the flames on both floors, getting the fire under control within 45-60 minutes, yet extensive overhaul and opening of walls and ceilings kept most personnel at the scene until 5 a.m. 

Firefighters from Rockland, Rockport and Camden returned a few hours later when some smoldering insulation in the attic ignited the wood ceiling joist adjacent to it. Firefighters then removed nearly all the third floor ceiling and insulation as well as wetting all the fire areas again.

“Once again, the strength of our mutual aid pact helped bring dozens of firefighters out in the frigid cold to help fight the fire,” said Whytock. “Firefighters from nine departments worked seamlessly to safely extinguish the fire and protect as much personal property as possible.” 

ROCKLAND — Rockland Fire and mutual aid firefighters from area towns again mustered this morning just before 8 a.m. as another call of smoke spotted on the third floor of a Main Street apartment building was made. Rockland Fire and its mutual aid battled interior flames on Main Street, in Rockland, in the early morning hours of Friday, Jan 29. 

Main Street closed to traffic starting just after 12:30 a.m., near North Main Street (Dunkin Donuts) while crews battled a persistent fire at 666/668 Main Street, a five-unit apartment house.

First arriving units found heavy smoke billowing from one window and flames showing inside of another. For two hours, smoke continued to pour from the east facing windows as Rockland Fire called for second and third alarms, followed by an additional request for an Engine truck. 

Rockport, Camden, South Thomaston, Thomaston, Warren, Waldoboro, and Owls Head all responded to the call, as did Thomaston Ambulance and Central Maine Power.

Red Cross has been notified to to assist with the displaced tenants. 

The street reopened just prior to 5 a.m.

This apartment house also endured a fire in 2016. See our article here.

This article will be updated as more information becomes available. 

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com