BREAKING NEWS: Rockland Fire, Mutual Aid Responding To Fire At Fisher (UNDER CONTROL)

UPDATE 6:25pm: The following is according to Rockland Fire Department Chief.

Date/Time Reported:  11/01/2017 at 14:13 (2:13 PM)
Address of Incident:  50 Gordon Drive, Fisher Engineering 
Owner/Occupant(s):  Building was occupied with workers at the time of the fire
First Unit/Arrival Time:  Rockland Unit 20 (Captain Jeff Benner) at 2:18 pm
Apparatus Assigned:  
Rockland Tower 3 Rockport Engine 23
Rockland Squad 3 Rockport Engine 22
Rockland Engine 1 Camden Ladder 1 for RIT 

Rockland Rescue South Thomaston FD

Number of Personnel:  26 firefighters
Cause:  Unknown at the time of the press release but electricians at the plant are working to rule out an electrical malfunction.
Incident Narrative:  The alarm came into the Knox County Dispatch Center as a pull station activation.  While Rockland Fire & EMS were responding, dispatch was advised of a fire in the paint room of the plant.  Upon arrival, Unit 20 signed off with no smoke or flames showing but workers were reporting smoke inside the building.  Chief Whytock requested a first alarm assignment and arrived on scene.  Members of B-shift entered the building to find a smoldering fire within the insulation used to divide the paint room from the rest of the plant.  The fire was contained to the insulation with no further extension into the walls or machinery.  A lot of work was needed to make sure no further fire spread continued.  Due to the high electrical hazards that exist in an industrial setting, water was used with caution with only 100 gallons were used, most of that outside of the building,  

Any factors contributing to, or hindering the success of the operation:
⦁ The early notification of the fire was key to prevent further damage.  A worker inside the plant noticed smoke and pulled the fire alarm.  
⦁ Plant supervisors made our jobs much easier.  They secured utilities (power, gas) and were available to provide us with much needed info to be safe and effectively extinguish the fire.

⦁ Our mutual aid system works flawlessly in situations like these.  Not only did we have help on scene, we also had Thomaston Ambulance cover 2 EMS calls while crews were working the Gordon Street fire.  

UPDATE 3:06: Command is reporting most of the fire is knocked down at this time.
UPDATE 2:32pm Command is requesting a single engine from South Thomaston Fire Department.

Everyone is out safe.


BREAKING NEWS: Rockland, Maine -- Rockland, mutual aid fire departments are responding to 50 Gordon Drive (Fishers) for a fire on Wednesday, November 1st, 2017 in Rockland, Maine.