Fire Chief: Off-duty Waldo County deputy pulls burning car away from Lincolnville home

Holly S. Edwards
Wed, 01/29/2014 - 8:00pm
A car at the Kelly residence, at the corner of Slab City Road and Route 52 in Lincolnville, burns close to the garage Wednesday afternoon before an off-duty Waldo County Sheriff’s Deputy hooked his truck up to it and pulled it away and firefighters then quelled the blaze. (Courtesy Sandy Cox)
Lincolnville firefighters work to put out a car fire at 699 Slab City Road Wednesday afternoon. (Courtesy Ben Hazen)
Lincolnville firefighters work to put out a car fire at 699 Slab City Road Wednesday afternoon. (Courtesy Ben Hazen)
A nearby off-duty Waldo County Sheriff’s deputy was able to hook up to the burning car in Lincolnville and pull it about 12 feet away from the garage as firefighters were arriving on scene. (Courtesy Ben Hazen)
The older model Buick sedan was a total loss after the fire, which began while the battery was being charged. (Courtesy Ben Hazen)

Story Location:
699 Slab City Road
Lincolnville, ME
United States

    LINCOLNVILLE — A Slab City Road homeowner, who was charging his car’s battery just a few feet from his home, came back outside to smoke and flames Wednesday afternoon.

    Lincolnville Fire Chief Ben Hazen said the car fire call came in around 2:28 p.m., and was reported as smoke coming from the engine compartment.

    Hazen said he was the first firefighter on scene and drove up to see Waldo County Sheriff’s Deputy Sgt. Jim Greeley hooking his truck up to the late 1980s-model Buick sedan.

    “The car was just 5-feet away from the house before Greeley pulled it out toward the road,” said Hazen. “He was off-duty and driving a Ford F250 and was able to hook onto it and pull it about 12-feet from the house.”

    Hazen said wind likely fanned the fire in the engine compartment, but that luckily the breeze was blowing away from the house, not toward it.

    “It didn’t catch the garage on fire only because of the wind direction,” said Hazen. Moving the car away was also a contributing factor, said Hazen.

    According to town assessment records, the home at 699 Slab City Road is owned by Erika and Jack Kelly. Hazen declined to identify the vehicle’s owner.

    Hazen said 10 Lincolnville firefighters responded to the call, with the fire being put out by Engine 5. He also said the car was a total loss. Firefighters cleared the scene at 3:10 p.m.

    Editorial Director Holly S. Edwards can be reached at hollyedwards@penbaypilot.com or 706-6655.

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