KNOX COUNTY — Heads up. Trees are falling.

An afternoon uptick in reports of downed trees has sent most volunteer fire departments in Knox County out in rainy and windy conditions, Friday afternoon, Dec. 19, 2025. Wind gusts for the December 19 storm have been forecasted to exceed 50 miles per hour and some gusts may reach 55-60 miles per hour or higher. Power lines have been ripped from houses, and other lines left dangling. Power outages have occured throughout the region.

At first, Washington FD seemed to be getting most calls, starting at approximately 1:55 p.m. En route to two reports of trees in the road (Hopkins Road and Calderwood), fire units stopped to pick up another tree on the Fitch Road. They've since been to Vanner Road, and also began a response to Liberty for a reported structure fire, but was cancelled en route.

In Warren, a canvas shed with an ATV inside blew over, knocking both the shed and the ATV onto their sides. Among other tree issues in Warren, a tree on fire in the wires near 271 Depot Road has caused that section of Depot Road to be closed. The FD also responded to Atlantic Highway for a tree blocking the northbound lane.

Earlier, in between storm bursts, Hope FD requested the help of Rockport FD at approximately 10:45 a.m., in order to rescue a deer from Hobbs Pond, near Payson Road. Hope FD was called out again at approximately 2:50 p.m. for a tree near 73 Fogler Road. That tree has been dealt with. After 4 p.m., the FD was called to Buzzel Hill Road for a tree in the wires.

In Appleton, a section of road around 660 Burkettville Road is closed due to a tree in the wires. Union crews also responded to Burkettville Road and then went to 907 Shepard Hill Road for a tree in the roadway. Appleton FD and Union FD have since been called to 1759 West Appleton Road for a tree in the wires.

St. George has been called upon, as has Owls Head (Ilvonen Lane). Friendship FD cleared the Davis Point roadway after a tree fell.

Camden FD has dealt with issues in that town, including Washington, Mechanic, and Grove streets, and Molyneaux Road. In Rockland, lights flicker in houses, and at 3:55 p.m, someone reported seeing sparks falling from a streetlight at the intersection of Broadway and Thomaston Street. Rockland FD checked the area but could not see what the caller had seen. A tree also fell on Lake Ave.

Thomaston FD has been called to Ross Avenue and Knox Street, both calls coming in simultaneously at approximately 3:35 p.m. At 118 Knox Street, a large oak has fallen, extinguishing power to the area, including a street light. Ross Ave is also closed and awaiting Central Maine Power Company.

Cushing FD gave its first report of a tree down at 3:50 p.m.

North Haven reported a tree down just before 4 p.m. Fox Island Electric has been notified, and Vinalhaven eventually reported an issue on their island.

In an email to customers, Central Maine Power highlighted their safety protocol for lineworkers: 

"Falling trees are the leading cause of outages at CMP and road clearing can occur, even when it’s too windy for crews to work in the air in buckets," said CMP. "For safety reasons, our crews are prohibited from raising bucket truck arms when windspeeds are greater than 30 miles per hour."

In the next hour of the storm, along with more calls regarding trees and wires, South Thomaston FD responded to an outside generator fire on Spruce Head Road. Union went to Crawford Lane for a fuel truck that got trapped behind a tree with live wires entangled. The truck had to wait for CMP before continuing on its way. 

Fire departments also responded to smoke alarms connected to security alarms. 

By 6 p.m., the winds had calmed, yet cleanup continues.

Reach Pen Bay Pilot at news@penbaypilot.com