08/27/2026
St. Albans Crews Battle 2+ Alarm Structure Fire
At approximately 2:40 p.m. Wednesday, August 26, the St. Albans Fire Department, along with first-alarm mutual aid partners from the Hartland and Corinna Fire Departments, was dispatched to 71 Denbow Road for a reported occupied, fully involved structure fire.
Crews arrived less than seven minutes after dispatch and found a one-and-a-half-story home with fire on both floors. Firefighters conducted searches for trapped occupants and found none. They then initiated an interior attack but were challenged by the building’s layout and its former use as a ma*****na cultivation site, with living spaces located on the second floor.
Crews battled the fire for several hours. A second alarm brought additional mutual aid from the Canaan, Detroit, Skowhegan, Dexter, and Newport fire departments, with further assistance from the Dover-Foxcroft and Plymouth fire departments.
High heat and humidity, along with limited volunteer staffing during the workday, added to the challenges. Despite those conditions, St. Albans firefighters and mutual aid partners assembled the personnel and resources needed to battle the fire.
Sebasticook Valley Ambulance provided standby EMS coverage at the scene, while the Pittsfield Fire Department provided station coverage for St. Albans.
An estimated 100,000 gallons of water were shuttled to the scene and used during firefighting operations. The Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office was requested to investigate the fire’s origin and cause.
The incident also marked the first use of the St. Albans Fire Department’s updated personnel accountability system. Assistant Chief Ian Tenny of the Scarborough Fire Department developed and taught the system to department members. It proved invaluable during the incident, enhancing safety and accountability for all personnel operating at the scene.
The St. Albans Fire Department sincerely thanks all responding departments and personnel for their assistance.
For further information, please contact Fire Chief Paul Doughty.