ROCKLAND – One of the Farnsworth office buildings at the corner of Union and Museum streets, in Rockland, had only recently renewed its gleam due to the completion of a new roof. After Friday afternoon, however, all eyes may be drawn to ground level in the wake of a two-vehicle crash that sent the front end of one car underneath the Farnsworth porch.

At 4:27 p.m., approximately seven minutes after Rockland Fire, EMS, and police were called to an all-hands medical call on Thomaston Street, the responders were alerted to a second call – this time a vehicular crash at the intersection of Union and Museum streets. As a result, Thomaston Fire and EMS took the Union Street incident.

Afternoon commuter traffic was diverted up Masonic Street while EMS assessed the occupants of the two cars. All declined further medical attention, leaving the fire department to switch gears, training-wise, from healthcare to construction and engineering. How would they keep that corner of the structure up after pulling the convertible out from underneath?

That answer came with the pumping of a car jack, wedged between ground and beam next to the car. But, then what? The jack can’t stay there permanently.

Eventually, Rockland fire units completed their task at the other call, allowing a few of them to relieve the Thomaston firefighters.

Walk-around assessment produced further ideas, and firefighters back in the station were sent on a hunt for stack-able beams. Public Works was closed. However, pieces quickly fell into place, according to Asst. Fire Chief Patrick Lowe. Someone was still next door to the PW, at Ferraiolo Construction Inc. Soon, Rockland’s fire department utility truck was loaded with 6” x 6” pieces of lumber.

Multiple sets of arms made for light work, stacking a new pile under the structure, and when completed, all watched as the jack slowly eased downward, leaving the corner of the building cradled on the pile.

All units cleared the scene at 5:55 p.m.