Firefighters Responds To Early Friday Morning Rockland Fire

Rockland, Maine - Early Friday morning, May 14th, 2021 Birch Street fire brings firefighters from Rockland, Rockport and Camden in Rockland, Maine.

According to Rockland Fire Department,

Knox Regional Communications Center received a 9-1-1 call from a passerby of smoke and fire at 17 Birch Street in Rockland.  Upon initial arrival of two Rockland Police Officers they found an occupant on the front lawn and smoke in the building.  Rockland Car1 arrived with a report of smoke and flames from the second floor with no exposures involved.  Rocklands first due companies arrived and deployed an attach line and made entry to the building to extinguish the fire after a quick application of water from the exterior to prevent flame spread to the outside.  The building was occupied by one individual who was transported to Penobscot Bay Medical Center in Rockport with burns to her hands and feet.  The remainder of the building was searched to check for any other occupants who may have been inside with no other victims found.

Investigators from the State Fire Marshal’s Office assisted Rockland Fire and Rockland PD in the investigation and it was determined that the tenant was smoking in bed which ignited materials in the bedroom.  Approximately 400 gallons of water was used to extinguish the fire with heavy fire and smoke damage to the second floor. 

Any factors contributing to, or hindering the success of the operation:

1.  Quick notification to The Knox County Regional Communications Center helped prevent the spread of fire to the house.

2.  A quick response by Rockland Fire & EMS and our mutual aid partners from Camden and Rockport.

3.  Staffed fire stations save time, which saves lives and property.  Our first due companies were arriving on scene within 5 minutes of being notified of the fire.  Water was being applied to the fire within an estimated 7 minutes, which eliminates fire development. 

Photos credited to Rockland Fire Department