Lamoine fire being investigated

An early morning fire in Lamoine is under investigation. Deputy Fire Chief Stu Marckoon says they received a call just before three Wednesday morning. He says the caller heard what sounded like gunshots and could not tell what was burning. When crews arrived on the Bay Road they found an RV and screened in deck fully engulfed in flames. Marckoon says no one was there at the time. The RV had just been hooked up to electricity. Crews from several towns helped put the fire out. The Fire Marshal's Office is investigating what started the fire.
WFVX-LD FOX 22 Bangor

Changes coming to dangerous intersection in Jay

Changes are being made to a dangerous intersection in Maine. Starting on Monday, May 13, Bean's Corner in Jay, where Routes 133 and 156 intersect, will become a four-way stop. Right now, only drivers on Route 156 must stop. According to data from the Maine Department of Transportation, there have been 136 crashes at the intersection since the start of 2020. That makes it the intersection with by far the most crashes in town and all of Franklin County. Message boards were put up on Route 133 this week to alert drivers of the upcoming change. The intersections with the most crashes in the state every year are both in Augusta: the intersection of Memorial Circle and Western Avenue and the intersection of Bangor Street, Cony Circle and Cony Street. Those are the two traffic circles on either side of the Kennebec River on Route 202.
WMTW-TV ABC 8 Poland Spring

Hampden family safe following home fire

Firefighters say smoke detectors helped alert a Hampden family to a fire in their home Tuesday night. Hampden fire officials say they were called to Patterson Street just after 10 p.m. When first responders arrived, they reported light smoke in the neighborhood. But, with no flames showing in the house, it took a few minutes for crews to locate the fire. During that time, mutual aid from surrounding towns and departments arrived. Firefighters found heavy smoke in the back of the house and soon found the source in a second floor storage room. They say within 30 minutes of the initial call, they were able to put the fire out and contain the damage to the upstairs area. Four people staying at the home made it out safely, as did their pets. The Fire Marshal’s Office is looking for the cause.
WABI-TV CBS/CW+ 5 Bangor

Did you know the first fire watch tower in the country was in Maine?

PHOTOS: Maine is full of history. Did you know that the first continually operated fire tower in the country was right here in Maine? The tower at the top of what is now known as Big Moose Mountain, then called Big Squaw Mountain, was built in 1905. Until 1976, the fire watchmen of Big Moose Mountain maintained a constant presence, watching for smoke and fires. The cab of the tower was removed by helicopter in 2011 and moved to the Moosehead Lake Region Visitors Center in Greenville, where it still stands today. Tuesday, Maine Forest Rangers shared a picture of one of the drones that is now used to help detect fires, checking out the tower. According to a report from the state and Natural Heritage Hikes, a metal tower replaced the original wooden structure in 1919.
WMTW-TV ABC 8 Poland Spring