Staff Writer
WASHBURN – Authorities are investigating a fire Sunday night that caused considerable damage to the structure that once served as McCain Foods’ Washburn processing center.
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
An unidentified man stands silhouetted by flames as he gets a closer look at the blaze that ripped through the former McCain Foods processing/freezer facility in Washburn Sunday night.
“A call came in shortly before 6 p.m. Nov. 8 reporting a fire at the old McCain’s site,” said Washburn Fire Chief Troy Heald.
According to Heald, a neighbor made the first of several calls officials received reporting the blaze.
The structure, owned by the town of Washburn, has been vacant for some time, following the vegetable processor’s decision to close the plant, which was used, in part, for pea processing, several years ago. There was no power to the partially-demolished facility.
Mutual aid was provided by neighboring communities.
“We had crews and trucks from Caribou, Mapleton and Presque Isle on scene. About 30 firefighters battled the blaze for nearly four hours,” said Heald.
Most of the firefighters were cleared shortly after 10 p.m., with a few remaining to watch for hot spots, Heald said.
No injuries were reported as the result of the fire.
Heald said firefighters were fortunate the weather cooperated.
“We were lucky. If it had been windy, the fire could have easily spread,” said Heald.
The building is located in a partially wooded area adjacent to the ATV trail, just off Gardner Creek Rd. Residents of nearby homes watched as firefighters tackled the blaze from various angles.
“We were able to keep the fire from spreading to nearby homes,” Heald said.
Vehicles lined Main St./Route 164 and parked in the vacant lot just off Main St. as people gathered to watch the firefighters do their job. Not since Washburn’s August Festival had the town seen so much activity and traffic on Main St. Many residents took advantage of the mild temperature Sunday evening (at the time of the fire the temperature was a mild 52 degrees) to take a stroll to see what was happening. Police were on hand to keep spectators at a safe distance and control traffic.
“Officer Roy Guidry (Washburn Police Department) helped secure the area,” said Heald, noting other law enforcement officers were there as well.
Caribou Ambulance Service also assisted at the scene.
According to Heald, the structure sustained extensive damage and is considered a total loss. The building was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived. Crews, unable to enter the facility, fought the blaze from the perimeter of the former factory, using hoses and tanker trucks from several communities.
“When crews arrived, the fire was well under way. Our goal was to keep it from spreading,” said Heald. “There’s not much left to it. It’s pretty well gone.”
Officials with the Fire Marshal’s Office were on site Monday trying to determine the cause of the blaze.
“It appears to be suspicious in nature, that’s all I can say. Investigators with the Fire Marshal’s Office are sifting through the remains trying to determine the cause,” said Heald.
At presstime, no cause had been identified. The fire remains under investigation.
