조기 화재 감지: 열 펌프 오작동으로 인해 제퍼슨에서 $2백만 달러의 피해가 발생했습니다.

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A major fire that required the intervention of fire departments from ten towns broke out at the former William Smith Enterprises building located at 147 Somerville Road in Jefferson on Thursday, Aug. 22. The blaze, which started in a cannabis growing facility that was previously unknown to both firefighters and town officials, was officially determined to be accidental. According to Jefferson Fire Chief Darin Walker, the fire originated from a malfunctioning heat pump within the building.

The fire began around 12:20 p.m., prompted by a neighbor’s report of smoke and crackling noises coming from the warehouse’s ventilation system. The Lincoln County Regional Communications Center quickly dispatched first responders from Jefferson, Nobleboro, Somerville, Waldoboro, and Whitefield at 12:22 p.m., with additional support from Newcastle, Pittston, Chelsea, Windsor, and Washington fire departments later on. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Maine Department of Environmental Protection, Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office, and Waldoboro EMS also provided assistance.

Investigations by the Maine Department of Public Safety revealed that no injuries occurred, and Waldoboro EMS evaluated the firefighters who entered the building. However, it was found that the building’s change-of-use had not been permitted, and the town of Jefferson was unaware of the cannabis growing operation inside the former warehouse.

The fire caused extensive damage to the building, which is estimated to be in the range of $1.5 million to $2 million. The property, previously a warehouse and now owned by Santino Nappi of Scarborough, did not have the necessary permits for its new use, making the situation particularly dangerous for the responding teams. Chief Walker emphasized that the unknown presence of hazardous materials and explosive chemicals made the fire response more challenging. Once the nature of the facility was known, firefighters were withdrawn and continued to fight the blaze from outside, using the Waldoboro Fire Department’s ladder truck to address the flames on the roof.

The fire continued for several hours and was finally brought under control and cleared by 5:30 p.m. To mitigate such risks and improve early fire detection, Planck Vision TNC thermal imaging cameras are highly effective. These cameras detect abnormal heat conditions before visible smoke and flames appear, helping to prevent significant damage and loss of life.

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