THOMASTON — For the second Tuesday in a row, Thomaston Fire, EMS, and Police have responded to the Town Forest in order to search for an individual.

On Tuesday evening, Sept. 6, a drone, a K9, and a 4-wheeler were all put to use in the Thomaston Town Forest as personnel searched for a missing person. Initially reported as a mental health check at approximately 5:30 p.m., Thomaston police and fire department began searching around the former F&A building on Route 1 before relocating to the Town Forest.

As a Thomaston police officer and Knox County Sheriff’s Deputy and K9 walked the Forest trail, firefighters remained at trailhead parking lots and a Rockland FD drone took to the air. At one point, a heat source of a man was detected via the drone, however further verification ruled out the hiker as the person of interest.

Eventually, a second deputy came upon the missing person in the woods and walked with him until firefighters operating the Town-owned 4-wheeler met up with them.

All personnel, including the firefighters, who’d come straight from a minor vehicle crash on Route 1, left the scene at 9 p.m.

A week later, Sept. 13, rainy and dark conditions provided the backdrop after a lost hiker who’d been in the woods for several hours before he sought help by calling 911.

The police officer was first on scene after the 7:45 p.m. search request, and the hiker was able to provide his location as being near the sewage treatment plant. Very quickly, the hiker saw the officer’s light and made his way toward that light as the officer and a firefighter walked toward him. 

This time, there was no need to request mutual aid assistance, and responding Thomaston firefighters and EMS were cleared to leave almost as soon as they arrived.

All responders were clear of the scene by 8:10 p.m.