Updated 6:21 p.m. Wednesday, May 11: According to Industry Fire and Rescue Chief Kevin Gurney, a total of 4.2 acres were burned and the cause of the blaze is still unknown at this hour. The fire was at first thought to be in Industry, but mapping put it across the town line in Starks.
The 15 departments that responded were: Industry, New Sharon, New Vineyard, Farmington, Temple, Wilton, East Dixfield, Jay, Livermore Falls, Livermore, Strong, Phillips, Kingfield, Anson, Madison, Starks, along with NorthStar EMS, and Maine Forest Service.
“There were over 50 firefighters fighting the fire, with one minor injury that did not require transport to the hospital,” Gurney said.
INDUSTRY – Virtually every available fire fighter from greater Franklin County responded to a large fire that broke out in a heavily wooded area near the Industry/Starks town line on Wednesday morning.
A motorist traveling on Mile Hill Road in New Sharon spotted large plumes of white smoke coming from the general area of New Sharon, Industry, or Starks and called to report it at about 10:30 a.m.
Fire fighters drove around to locate the smoke and found it to be located at 2065 Industry Road in Industry near the Starks town line. The fire was described as very large in size and an all-county tone was given. Responding units brought water and tools to battle the blaze in an area not far off Industry Road.
Wind gusts of between 10 and 20 mph drove the fire to spread faster with reports that flames had reached up into the trees. Homeowners on Industry Road stood at the end of their driveways watching the fire engines pass by. Tankers filled their reserves at the head of Clearwater Lake at Allen’s Mills.
The state’s Forest Service was on scene as well as NorthStar ambulance and Franklin County Sheriff’s Office personnel.
At 12:15 p.m. it was reported that the fire was contained.
Thank you all for your efforts today and always! We are grateful to have such committed emergency teams!
Great work, thanks to all involved !
From an Industry Resident, we thank you all for your commitment and service to our mutual communities. We are very fortunate to live in Franklin County where neighbors look after neighbors. Good job everyone in containing this fire and thanks to the person on Mile Hill, New Sharon who called it in.
Thank you New Sharon and all other towns for leaving your paying jobs to do what needed to he done, we all in franklin county will forever be in debt to you for your selfless service.
Thanks to everyone for taking care of the firer
great work people thank you
God Bless our first responders. Thank you for keeping them all safe and working as a team. Great job people.
Carol
Great job and thank you to all who were involved, including the firefighters other responders, and the person who phoned that in! Scary business. It’s very dry out there folks- watch what you’re doing with anything that might start a fire, property and someone’s life might depend on it!
Thank you to all the firefighters involved for dropping everything to make sure this fire didn’t get more out of control than it already was. It makes me so glad tonlibe in a county where we all help each other. Well done to all of you! I’m so happy no one was seriously injured! You are truly the heroes of our area!
And thanks to those invisible people who support the firefighters to drop what they are doing and go do what they are trained to do, and do so well. T
I just wanted to add that East Dixfield was there, too. Forgot that when talking to Bobbie. Also, just wanted to say thank you to all of the departments for the help. It is much appreciated.
We will add them to the list as well.
People try to place a dollar value on Mutual Aid but without it where would we all be? Thanks to all who worked hard on Wednesday to get control of the situation and help save several properties that could have been destroyed.
Clyde, you raise a very good point. Well said. Thank you and the responders for what you do for us ALL.