Update from Chief Gerry Gamage: The cause of the fire was "an over-heated chimney radiated into the framing."

On Feb. 16 at 8:05 p.m., Lincoln County Emergency Communications issued a mutual aid, first alarm fire call for a chimney and possible structure fire at the residence owned by Matt and Abigail Elder at 2 Maddocks Road in Southport. The first fire crews arriving from Southport, Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor Fire and Rescue found the residence with fire showing in half of the house and with significant smoke in the remainder of the structure.

While residents were able to quickly and safely evacuate the home, unfortunately a family pet was determined to be trapped in the structure. After knocking down the fire, firefighters conducted a primary search of the home and were able to locate the cat but unfortunately it perished in the fire.

Southport Fire Chief Gerry Gamage immediately established incident command and positioned two attack fire engines – Southport Engine 5, and Boothbay Engine 2 in the driveway to provide fire crews with immediate support and deployment of four attack lines for use by crews in the front and rear of the residence. Additionally, Chief Gamage established water supply operations in front of Southport General Store, which allowed access to a fire hydrant for arriving fire tankers. Fire crews were required to then shuttle water from the store to the residence on Maddocks Lane, a distance of one mile. At the fire scene, a portable fire dump tank was erected – an approximately 15-foot by 20-foot rubber tank, which can hold over 2,000 gallons of water and allows fire tankers to discharge water directly into the tank. Southport and Boothbay Fire attack engines were then able to directly draw water from this portable tank and pressurize the water to between 80 and 120 PSI and feed the four attack hoses used by crews to extinguish the fire. It was estimated by fire officials that over 35,000 gallons were used to extinguish the blaze.

While the fire was largely contained in 45 minutes, fire crews battled hot spots in the roofline and attic areas of the structure for over two hours.

Gamage noted, “When arriving on scene it was immediately apparent that the fire had spread from the chimney area to the structure and involved a significant part of the home and that this was a serious structure fire. We were very sad we were not able to save the family pet but grateful all the residents were able to safely vacate the residence. This was a very challenging fire, given the one-lane road, snowbanks, and constricted areas near the residence, and it involved tightly orchestrated water supply operations. We had a great mutual aid team effort from our surrounding towns and firefighters to contain the fire as much as possible.”

Over 40 firefighters responded to the call, supporting incident command, interior attack, search and rescue, water supply and fire support operations. Apparatus on scene included all of Southport’s fire equipment, Boothbay Harbor Engine 3 and ladder truck, and Boothbay’s Engine 2, Tank 2, Tank 1, Rescue and Fire utility 1. Edgecomb Fire provided station coverage for Boothbay with two apparatus and four firefighters.

Boothbay Region Ambulance Service was on scene providing rehabilitation and medical support to fire crews and Boothbay Harbor Police provided traffic control on Hendricks Hill Road.

Boothbay Region Fire Auxiliary deployed members who provided firefighters with warm coffee, sandwiches and other much needed food and support.

Gamage noted there were no injuries reported and that the fire is under investigation. Fire crews remained on scene until 11:30 p.m. and then departed to their four respective departments where they refueled apparatus, cleaned and repacked hoses, refilled air packs and checked critical safety equipment.