WALDOBORO — The State Fire Marshal’s Office will be sifting through the remaining half of a building in Waldoboro that caught fire early Sunday morning, reducing Route 1 to one lane and temporarily disconnecting power to nearby homes and businesses.

The Waldoboro Fire Department responded to a structure fire after being dispatched, July 7, at 4:50 a.m., to the area of Grace Avenue on Atlantic Highway.

Instead, the building was found behind 65 Washington Road – Liberty Tree Fire Arms – and the former Ameri-Gas company.  

The property is owned by Donald Grady, Jr., of Palm Harbor, Florida, and was currently used by the owner’s son, Donald Grady, III. On Sunday,Waldoboro Chief Paul Smeltzer had no knowledge of what the building was used for. 

Upon arrival, Smeltzer, found the southeast section of the building showing heavy fire and another section with heavy smoke visible from the second floor, according to Smeltzer, in a news release.

Initial tactics involved a defensive attack from the exterior of the building as two suppression operations were established.

The fire department was assisted on scene by personnel from Damariscotta, Bremen, Nobleboro, Union, Warren, Friendship, and the Lincoln County Firefighter Strike Team. (The Strike Team is a group of firefighters who are committed to assisting in fires anywhere in the county, not just their home departments.)

A ladder truck from Damariscotta set up on the over-pass on Route One, and extended over the railroad tracks. Their crew used a master stream with a water pipe over the southeast section, while hand line operations were established on the Washington Road side. Tanker shuttles were used to supply water to both the Route One and Washington Road operations. 

Route One and Washington Road were down to one lane of traffic until the fire was under control. Electrical service was restored to several homes and businesses in the area after Central Maine Power isolated the electrical current to the specific property involved. 

No injuries were reported.

Fire units cleared the scene at 10:35 a.m.

Waldoboro Police Department and Waldoboro EMS also responded and assisted on scene.