ROCKLAND, Maine — Tenants from three apartments were forced outside Wednesday morning from a fire in the second-floor residence.
Rockland firefighters, assisted by Camden, Rockport and Thomaston, responded shortly before 7 a.m. to the 12 Gay St. apartment building to a report of the second-floor apartment being filled with smoke.
Rivers Boland, a tenant, said she was getting ready for school and smelled smoke. When she opened her door there was considerable smoke, which she thought was coming from the boiler room.
Third-floor resident Zachary Hussey said he was awakened by another resident and told to evacuate. A fire alarm had sounded, he said.
The fire was quickly extinguished. By 7:30 a.m., Rockport and Camden crews were returning to their stations.
Rockland Fire Chief Chris Whytock said the fire started with a water heater located in a closet in the second-floor apartment. He said the fire was contained to the closet and the kitchen. There was also smoke throughout the apartment.
He said the residents of the first and third floor could return to their apartments, but electrical work was needed on the second-floor unit.