Pets killed in Lisbon fire

A Maine State Trooper spotted a home on fire on Mill Street in Lisbon Sunday evening. The trooper reported the fire at about 6 p.m. When firefighters arrived a short time later, there was heavy fire throughout the first floor of the home. Crews from four towns battled the two-alarm fire. All people made it out of the home, but firefighters say two pets are believed to have died. The cause of the fire was under investigation Monday morning by the State Fire Marshal's Office.
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Gorham firm to replace tower at Orr’s Island Fire Station

The Harpswell Select Board has contracted a Gorham firm to build a new, 100-foot-tall emergency communications tower at the Orr’s Island Fire Station for $121,720. The Harpswell Select Board approved a contract with East Coast Communications LLC on May 25. The contract calls for the tower to be complete by Sept. 30, unless both parties agree to an extension. East Coast Communications submitted the lowest of five bids for the project. The new tower will replace an 80-foot tower removed in November 2022. The town had long planned to replace the tower with a taller and sturdier structure, but the matter gained urgency when a lightning strike damaged the old tower in June 2022. Green Mountain Communications Inc., of New Hampshire, removed the old tower for $26,250.
Harpswell Anchor

The Office of the Maine Fire Marshal gets four-legged arson investigator

The Office of the Maine Fire Marshal has acquired its third four-legged arson investigator. Fire Investigator Andrew Whitney and his arson dog Cheeto recently graduated from a four-week Arson Dog Training Program sponsored by State Farm. Whitney and K9 Cheeto were one of 13 teams from across the country that attended the training, said Maine Department of Public Safety spokesperson Shannon Moss. Cheeto is a 2-year-old, male, yellow Lab mix who comes from Paws with a Cause in Wayland, Mich. Cheeto was originally raised to be a disability dog but had too strong of a nose and work drive to be a service animal, Moss said. “The Office of State Fire Marshal would like to thank State Farm for their ongoing support,” said Rich McCarthy, Maine’s fire marshal. "We are excited to have Cheeto join our fire marshal family. Cheeto joins State Farm K9 Shannon and K9 Harry, who is from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. (ATF)."
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