BREAKING NEWS: Firefighters Working 10 Summer Street Rockland Structure Fire (Knocked Down, Contained To Outside)

7:36pm Update: According to Rockland Fire Department, Responded to the report of a structure fire on Summer St. Upon arrival found fire showing from rear porch of the second floor of a 2 ½ story three unit building. The crew from A-shift quickly stretched a hoseline and directed water onto the house and porch extinguishing the fire very quickly. All occupants were reported to be outside, which was also quickly verified by firefighters searching the building. Crews from Camden and Rockport were cancelled as the fire was confined to the porch. The occupant was smoking on the deck earlier in the day and it is believed a discarded cigarette caused a smoldering fire that eventually ignited the porch. Vinyl siding on the building melted but the building itself did not burn.

The tenant of the apartment where the fire occurred was not home at the time and a very alert tenant downstairs is credited with acting quickly to call 9-1-1 and cause the building to be evacuated. The tenant also is credited with keeping the fire small by applying several buckets of water to the fire keeping it at bay until the arrival of the fire department. This tenant did the right things when he decided to tackle this fire on his own, he ensured 9-1-1 was called and the building was being evacuated. He approached the fire with water and from a position that he could escape (keeping himself between the fire and the exit) should the fire grow beyond his control.

With all that said we caution the public about fighting fires on their own, when you do; First and foremost make sure 9-1-1 is being called and activate the alarm if one is present, confine the fire, by closing doors on your way out even if the fire is outside, and evacuate all occupants. Once those tasks have been completed you can decide if you are going to attempt to fight the fire. Approach the fire with an extinguishing agent in hand from a position that you can escape should the fire grow beyond your control.


Rapid notification of the fire department and the occupant’s willingness to act prevented this fire from extending into the building.

Cause: Improper disposal of smoking material.

4:12pm Update: Per car 1, fire knocked down, contained to the outside of structure, Camden cancelled.
BREAKING NEWS: Rockland, Maine - Firefighters working a fire at 10 Summer Street on Sunday, September 23rd, 2018 in Rockland, Maine.

Smoke, fire showing from rear.