Firefighters battle flaming potato storage facility in Connor

6 years ago

CONNOR TOWNSHIP, Maine — Smoke could be seen from miles away on the Madawaska Road in Connor as flames destroyed a potato storage facility Wednesday.

Firefighters fought the structure fire from late morning into the early afternoon, according to Caribou Fire Captain Brian Lajoie. He said at 1:30 p.m. that the fire may have originated from a wood stove but that firefighters were still trying to determine the cause at this time.

Lajoie said the building also was used to store equipment, and that the owner was able to salvage some of the items.

The captain said the facility “went up quick,” and that firefighters took up a “defensive attack” on arrival.

Nobody was injured but “fighting cold weather conditions was a huge battle for us,” Lajoie said.

The Caribou Fire Department was assisted by firefighters from Limestone, Fort Fairfield, North Lakes, and Stockholm. The Presque Isle Fire Department also provided mutual aid by covering the station.