WASHINGTON — A garage in Washington that housed an auto body shop was fully involved in flames by the time the first engine arrived to the Augusta Road location. Between the time of the initial 911 call and the rolling of the first trucks, sparks from the unattached structure had jumped to the rear wall of the house and spread a little bit further inside. That first engine did not arrived too late, according to Washington Fire Chief Jacoby Leavitt. The quick actions, along with quickly arriving crews from mutual aid, knocked down the house fire, saving the structure.

The Washington call was the third Knox County fire call of the day, Feb. 25, 2026, that required a response by mutual aid. In addition, Friendship and Warren were called to Waldoboro at 2:50 p.m. for a possible structure fire (they were canceled very soon after), and Cushing FD was called to a vehicle slide off in Friendship while Friendship managed a closed section of Waldoboro Road after a vehicle snapped a utility pole, sending the snapped portion of the pole down onto the vehicle itself. The occupant was able to self extricate. No injuries were reported.

Yet, mutual aid requests began much earlier than lunchtime, when snow began to fall.

Just after 4 a.m., an apartment tenant at 83 North Main Street, in Rockland, reported a smoke odor in the building, seemingly stronger as she neared her kitchen. A few minutes later, she reported that odor had gotten worse.

Arriving duty firefighters couldn’t rule out the possibility of fire in the walls, prompting a first-alarm request for Rockport and Camden. Police officers by closing off portions of streets impacted by personnel and water supply. Occupants of the 5-unit structure were evacuated as firefighters checked the basement and each level. In the background, the carbon monoxide detector began to sound.

Eventually, firefighters found the odor’s origin: a burnt towel in the microwave of the caller’s kitchen.

Camden had already been canceled, and Rockport returned to the station soon after.

Shortly after 7 a.m., an occupant of 47 Washington Street, in Camden, reported an odor of smoke in the multi-unit dwelling. Several of the faces seen at the Rockland call, just three hours prior, adorned in Rockland and Rockport gear, met up again in Camden, along with crews from Lincolnville and Hope. The odor was eventually traced to a burned out blower motor on the furnace, which was located in the basement.

After the 11:20 a.m., Friendship motor vehicle call, firefighters closed the portion of road around 430 Waldoboro Road, in Friendship, where the utility pole had snapped, dropping a portion of the pole onto the vehicle, along with the attached wires. Friendship FD initially requested a Waldoboro FD unit to close traffic at Goose River Bridge. However, Waldoboro was unavailable with their own calls. An hour later, Cushing FD was called to the Colonel Stairs Road as mutual aid after a vehicle went into off the pavement and into the bushes. The vehicle left the scene prior to the fire department’s arrival.

At 12:50 p.m., crews representing Washington, Union, Appleton, Liberty, Jefferson, and Somerville received the alert regarding the garage fire, with vehicles inside, at 725 Augusta Road. Until the flames had been extinguished, Route 17 (Augusta Road) was closed to traffic. One lane was then reopened so lines of vehicles could pass, alternating westbound and eastbound traffic.

Union Rescue, which is an automatic contract ambulance for Washington, responded to the scene as required by policy. However, no injuries were reported.

The Fire Marshal’s Office is helping Washington FD determine a cause. 

As last on scene, Washington FD returned to the station at 3:40 p.m.

Motor vehicle slideoffs continue to keep firefighters and law enforcement busy throughout the county.

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com