Updated: Maine Fire Marshals Investigate Massive Labor Day Fire That Leveled Richmond Auto Shop
Update as of 12:40 PM Tuesday afternoon from the office of the Maine State Fire Marshal:
"Investigators determined the fire started when an individual was welding on a vehicle inside the garage and the vehicle caught fire. The fire spread throughout the structure and to other vehicles in the yard.
The garage was destroyed, along with an apartment located above it. The fire has been ruled accidental."
Firefighters from dozens of Maine towns spent their Labor Day fighting a massive fire at a Richmond auto shop Monday afternoon.
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It was just after 12:30 PM on September 7th, when dispatchers received a call that there was a fully involved fire at the A and W Auto Sales and Service location on the Brunswick Road in Richmond.
According to the Sagadahoc County Emergency Management Agency, that folks who lived in or were driving in the area, were urged to avoid the area due to the number of EMS personnel, burning cars and potential hazards that were located in the building as crews battled the blaze.
"Upon arrival, firefighters encountered a rapidly spreading fire, resulting in the activation of a second alarm and the response of additional fire and emergency resources from throughout the region...Brunswick Road is a heavily traveled roadway, and maintaining access for emergency vehicles was critical to the response...The structure sustained extensive damage and is considered a total loss at this time."
Authorities say one person was injured at the scene, and was treated, on-site, for smoke inhalation and minor burns.
State and local agencies were called in to aid in both the extinguishing of the blaze, and the investigation that followed, including the Maine DOT, the Maine EPA, Tourtelotte Excavating. and the Maine Fire Marshal's office.
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Local fire departments such as the Richmond Police and Fire, the Sagadahoc County Sheriff's Department, Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Topsham, Woolwich, Lisbon, Pittston, Gardiner, West Gardiner, Litchfield, Dresden and Farmingdale all came together to work on putting out the fire or providing mutual aid.
And the folks with the Sagadahoc County Emergency Management Agency and the American Red Cross also responded to provide aid.
From the pictures provided by the Sheriff's Department, it would appear multiple vehicles a that scene were either damaged or destroyed by the fire.
We're told the investigation is ongoing, and we will update this story with a cause, once more information is released.
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