SOUTH THOMASTON (Jan. 7, 2024, 6 p.m.) — Because the barn that burned at Pepper Hill Farm, in South Thomaston, is on a commercial property, a call to the Fire Marshal’s Office was required, according to South Thomaston Fire Chief David Elwell. Therefore, an investigator will travel to the scene on Monday, Jan. 8, to take a first-hand look. Though the fire remains under investigation, firefighters believe that an active pellet stove in the structure is to blame for the damage, according to Elwell.

No animals were housed in that barn, and were instead already secured in the main barn well before flames were spotted around midnight from multiple windows on and around Elm Street.

Firefighters worked for several hours at the farm, located at 81 Elm Street, to contain the flames.

“After calling for the excavator and overhauling the building good, everything was completely out,” said Elwell. “There was just minor steam showing when we left at 4.”

As happens after every fire, each firefighter returned to his or her town fire station and spent at least another hour cleaning gear, washing and rolling hoses, and getting the trucks reloaded for the next call. South Thomaston firefighters were the last to leave the farm, just after 4 a.m., and didn’t leave their station until 7 a.m., according to Elwell.

SOUTH THOMASTON (2:30 a.m.) — A tenant living above a barn in South Thomaston awoke to the sound of a scream coming from a female voice at street level. One look out his window, and he was on the phone to 9-1-1. Another barn, which he built on the property of Pepper Hill Farm, on Elm Street (Route 73) was fully engulfed in flames. Inside that two and a half story structure were the irreplaceable parts that made up his business. 

Long before the midnight fire, Jan. 7, 2024, the tenant had brought his 1989 compost processing equipment from out of state and refitted and modernized the pieces in order to develop the successful entity that he’d created. As he watched the fire bring everything to a permanent halt, he said that while most other compost professions break down organisms into compost in weeks, if not months, he’d developed a way to speed up the process to three and a half days. But now, all that remains are two tank-like structures and a mound of metal siding.

For more than two hours, following the 12:11 a.m., Sunday, alert tone from 9-1-1 that spurred South Thomaston, Rockland, Thomaston, Owls  Head, St. George, and Warren firefighters to action, the air around 108 Elm Street echoed with a dull roar as hose water ricocheted off metal and sparks flew. Yet, the loudness of this cacophony could be best appreciated in the random seconds when those hoses fell slack, the voices ceased, and – aside from the low hum of a fire truck nearby – silence hovered over those who could only do so much. 

In the end, an excavator was brought in to pull aside long strips of metal siding as a way to expose the smaller flames that lay hidden. 

No people or animals were reported to be injured.

Warren, Owls Head, and St. George firefighters were released from the scene just after 3 a.m.

Elm Street was closed between the Keag Store and Buttermilk Lane. All remaining personnel cleared the scene at 4 a.m.

This article will be updated as more information becomes available. 

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com