07/08/2026
We were honored to be called upon to assist. And proud of our firefighters for their timely response and making second due for mutual aid.
KINGFIELD - On Tuesday, July 7 2026, at 1539hrs, Kingfield Fire Department and mutual aid partners were dispatched to a report of an explosion and a building on fire at the Carrabassett Veterinary Services Clinic at 8 Barred Hill Road in Kingfield. Initial dispatch reported that the building had been evacuated but that there were cats still believed to be inside.
First arriving fire apparatus was on scene within six minutes from the initial dispatch, followed closely by additional units from Kingfield Fire and mutual aid partners.
The building houses the veterinary clinic on the ground floor and residential units on the second floor, and was heavily involved with heavy smoke issuing from the front doors of the clinic and heavy fire conditions to the rear of the building and in the area of the propane tanks. Water shuttle operations were employed with additional water supply secured by drafting out of Reed Brook. Crews initially performed an interior attack, but ultimately ran out of water on scene and had to evacuate the building; while additional water supply was being secured, the structure became untenable due to risk of collapse and the operations transitioned to exterior operations only.
The scene transitioned into overhaul at 1738hrs, approximately two hours after the initial dispatch, with additional mutual aid requested for station coverage and to relieve crews working on the fire ground. Mutual aid crews began to be released around 1845hrs. Kingfield Fire cleared the scene and returned to quarters at 2119hrs.
Kingfield Fire returned to the scene around 0630hrs Wednesday morning to extinguish a hot spot that was smoking.
Due to the limited space in the clinic parking lot and the number of apparatus and equipment involved in this incident, traffic on Route 27 was heavily impacted throughout the incident, with the highway being partly or completely closed at different points.
Per Carrabassett Veterinary Services Clinic staff, all of the client animals were evacuated from the building; all staff and occupants were evacuated; and two cats which were believed to be in a residential apartment upstairs were unaccounted for and presumed lost. Kingfield Fire worked with the staff to ensure that all the occupants of the apartments and the animals had places to stay for the night, and the family was connected with the American Red Cross for additional assistance.
Kingfield Fire would like to thank our mutual aid partners at New Portland Fire, Carrabassett Valley Fire, Eustis Fire, Strong Fire, Phillips Fire, New Vineyard Fire, Farmington Fire, New Sharon Fire, Chesterville Fire, Rangeley Fire, Anson Fire, MaineHealth EMS, Franklin County Sheriff’s Department, Maine State Police, Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office, and the Kingfield Fire Auxiliary and community members who reached out to support our responders and the staff and family at the vet’s office.
The Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating.
