WELLS, Maine — A fire destroyed the Pine Tree Common apartment building Monday evening, displacing tenants and injuring a firefighter.
Firefighters were called to the complex at 2124 Sanford Road around 5:07 p.m. after reports of heavy flames on the porch and on all three floors, with people trapped inside.
Wells firefighter Garrett Earley signals to raise the basket higher as he and his crew battle the blaze at Pine Tree Commons, 2124 Sanford Road, on Nov. 18, 2024.
An off-duty Wells firefighter was the first to arrive and immediately called a second alarm, noting that the building was heavily involved. The fire brigade soon arrived with three trucks.
“Crews immediately checked to make sure all personnel were out of the building after receiving notification that the trapped resident was now outside after jumping from a second-floor window,” the department said in a news release.
Wells Fire Chief Mark Dupuis works on communications as mutual aid firefighters help control a fire at Pine Tree Commons at 2124 Sanford Road, Nov. 18, 2024.
As flames raged in the attic, a third alarm was issued, eventually escalating to a fourth alarm before the fire was extinguished.
The department said one firefighter suffered a minor injury and the main building is a “complete loss.”
Firefighters proceed cautiously while battling a fire at Pine Tree Commons at 2124 Sanford Road, Nov. 18, 2024.
The Wells Fire Department received assistance from the Wells Police Department, Wells Central, WEMS and several mutual aid departments from the region, including some from New Hampshire.
“Firefighters will remain on scene throughout the night to monitor for hot spots,” the department said.
The State Fire Marshal’s Office, they said, will investigate the cause of the fire.
Mutual aid from surrounding towns helped fight the fire at Pine Tree Commons, 2124 Sanford Road, which displaced many residents.
Mutual aid from surrounding towns helped fight the fire at Pine Tree Commons, 2124 Sanford Road, which displaced many residents.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Apartment fire in Wells, Maine: Total loss as fire displaces residents
