Farmington employee escapes fire

FARMINGTON — A public works employee escaped a fire that destroyed a town-owned plow truck he was driving Saturday morning on Route 156, locally known as Lucy Knowles Road.

The man was plowing the road when he heard a loud pop and noticed smoke, prompting him to pull over and jump out of the truck’s cab just before it burst into flames at about 10:30 a.m., a Farmington Fire Department official said.

He used a handheld fire extinguisher in an attempt to put out the fire, but the intense flames quickly engulfed the truck. Firefighters arrived at the scene and smothered the flames with fire retardant foam, extinguishing the blaze that had destroyed the truck except for the plow apparatus, which was salvaged, according to the fire official who said he responded to the incident.

The driver had been plowing roads overnight during the snowstorm and it’s unclear what caused the truck to catch fire, the fire official said. The official answered the fire department’s phone Sunday and declined to give his name. Fire Chief Terry Bell did not return a message Sunday.

A section of the road was closed for about an hour after the fire. No injuries were reported, the official said.

Farmington Public Works Director Denis Castonguay could not be reached Sunday.

 

IN MADISON, Saturday at 2:24 p.m., a motor vehicle accident with personal injury was reported on White School House Road.

IN SKOWHEGAN, Saturday at 2:20 p.m., a structure fire was reported on Stevens Road.

10:21 p.m., an assault was investigated on Hilltop Drive.

IN WATERVILLE, Saturday at 3:41 p.m., a theft was investigated on Silvermount Street.

7:16 p.m., an assault was investigated on Gold Street.

7:51 p.m., an assault was reported on Leighton Street.

Sunday at 12:23 p.m., a motor vehicle accident with injury was reported on Interstate 95.

Arrests

IN JACKMAN, Saturday at 7:35 p.m., El Somilope, 44, of Jackman, was arrested on a charge of operating after suspension.

IN PITTSFIELD, Saturday at 9:38 p.m., Aaron James Huffer, 27, of Hartland, was arrested on a charge of theft by unauthorized taking.

9:52 p.m., Daniel Cline, 22, of Detroit, was arrested on a charge of failure to appear on arraignment.

Sunday at 2:12 a.m., Amanda M. Fuchs, 27, of Pittsfield, was arrested on a charge of domestic violence assault.

IN SKOWHEGAN, Saturday at 8:44 p.m., Nouangeune Duangsay, 40, of Fitchburg, Mass., was arrested on a charge of unpaid fines or fees on assault charge.

IN WATERVILLE, Sunday at 1:10 a.m., Stacey Griffin, 22, of 527 Litchfield Road, Farmingdale, was arrested on a charge of violating condition of release.

2:59 a.m., Christopher Connors, 25, of 152 First Rangeway, Waterville, was arrested on a charge of violating condition of release.