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March 4, 2010

Fire crews quickly extinguish New Portland fire

By Doug Harlow dharlow@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer


  NEW PORTLAND — Emergency crews from several communities quickly put out a fire Thursday night at the former Dirigo Dowel mill, on River Road, in West New Portland village. The fire was reported just before 6:30 p.m.
New Portland Fire Chief Kip Poulin said flames and smoke were showing when his units arrived.
“We had flames coming out through the side, to the roof,” Poulin said. “Once we got here, we had it under control in 15 or 20 minutes.”
Fire units from New Portland, Kingfield, New Vineyard and Anson responded to the scene, with Madison personnel standing by.
The building is made of steel beams and plywood, with a metal roof. There were no injuries.
“We’re not one-hundred percent sure, but it seemed like maybe there might have been some welding and it got in behind the wall,” Poulin said at the scene. “After he left, it flared up and burnt through the wall on the south side of the building.”
The building, formerly a wood-turning mill, is now owned by Justin Jordan, who does metal fabrication, runs a small shop and has storage in the buildings. The dowel mill itself closed four or five years ago, Poulin said, but has been in the heart of the west village for as long as anyone can remember.
Poulin estimated the damage building to be $5,000-$6,000.
 

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