At 0926 hours on Thursday, January 13, 2005 the Knox County Regional Communications Center dispatched Rockland Fire and EMS to a reported commercial structure fire in the Industrial Park.
Engine 2, Engine 1, and Rescue 1 and Thomaston Ladder 2 (automatic aid) responded to 5 Gordon Dr. at the Harbor Millworks facility.
Upon arrival, Engine 2 officer, Lt. Mike Mazzeo reported heavy smoke showing from the eaves and struck a second alarm.
The Engine reverse laid to a nearby hydrant and crews stretched a 2.5" line through the front door.
Due to the heat and zero visibility conditions the initial crew was unable to make the fire room. A second line was stretched to the rear where Lt. Ken Elwell made a door in the metal siding and was able to get to the fire.
A third alarm was struck to cover the city's station.
Rockland investigators, along with the Maine State Fire Marshal's Office, determined the fire started in the area of an exhaust fan in a paint booth.
The building's sprinkler system had been removed from service in 1997 without the fire department's approval.
Units from Camden Fire Department, Camden First Aid and South Thomaston Fire Department covered the Rockland station.
Thomaston's ladder truck has been responding automatically to all alarms and fires in Rockland since September when Rockland's aging ladder was removed from service after failing its certification test.
