LINCOLNVILLE — "Overall it was just a terrific effort by the first-in guys," said Lincolnville firefighter and Northport Asst. Chief Henry Lang. "And truly, this outbuilding here, the fire was rolling up under the eaves, coming around the front side."

Those first-in firefighters, said Lang, "they just walked it back around." 

Firefighters were notified Thursday, Sept. 24, at 10:42 p.m., of a possible structure fire at a residential camp on Third Ave, in Lincolnville. Two outbuildings could not be saved, yet a third remains standing. Among a number of initial obstacles was the neighborhood itself, a warren of narrow gravel roads. Getting the first trucks to the scene was a challenge. 

Lincolnville and Northport firefighters responded, under the direction of Waldo County Regional Communications. Hope and Camden firefighters and NorthEast Mobile Health Services responded via Knox Regional Communications Center. 

Those Lincolnville firefighters who lived closer to the scene than to the fire station went in search of the reported structure fire. Third Ave was barely more than a hidden driveway along North Cobbtown Road. 

"When we got down here, we could see that there was definitely something burning good," said Lang.

A shed was well involved with flames. Powerlines lay across that shed and were burning as well, and the entire structure was radiating a lot of heat, according to Lang. Several propane tanks were compromised, though fire crews were able to prevent some stored gasoline from catching fire.

Miscommunication regarding where to lay the hoses stymied the situation at first. 

Still, water for the initial attack came from the first engines, and "Once we got water on the fire, it didn't take a huge amount to get it knocked down and put out," said Lang. Northport tanker supplied more water to the portable dump tank that was set up at Cobbtown Road. The tanker also refilled the other fire trucks with water from one of Lincolnville's many water supply options. 

Central Maine Power also responded to the scene.