On July 15 at 11:29 a.m. Boothbay Fire & Rescue received a call for an active fire alarm at Bigelow Laboratory in East Boothbay. Deputy Chief Joe Hall, who was the first on the scene, conferred with Bigelow safety staff and determined that there was smoke emanating from the basement and in the mechanical sections of the basement. Hall immediately executed a mutual aid call through Lincoln County Emergency Communications, with departments from Boothbay Harbor, Southport and Edgecomb Fire quickly responding.

Fire Command also initiated a multi prong attack, with a team of eight firefighters in full Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) moving into the basement to determine the origin of the smoke. In parallel, two teams of firefighters in full gear and SCBA conducted a complete sweep of the building, searching all floors, offices and laboratories.

Fire command also established two attack fire engines from Boothbay Fire in front of the building and connected to the fire hydrant to support the interior attack teams in case it was an active fire.

After an extensive 45-minute operation, it was preliminary determined that the cause was an electrical malfunction in one of the freezers. Fire teams completed their search, and in conferring with Bigelow Labs leadership and safety teams, it was determined that everyone was fully accounted for.

Over 30 firefighters, and eight apparatus, including Boothbay Harbor’s ladder truck and Boothbay Region Ambulance Service responded to the call.

Deputy Chief Hall noted “We had a great coordinated response and support from all the responding departments, and together as one team we quickly executed a multi prong operation to determine the source of the smoke and to also ensure that the building was completely searched and everyone was encountered for. It was hot, humid, and our fire teams in full gear did a great job. From pumper operations and water supply, to our interior attack teams and fire leadership from the surrounding teams it was great teamwork and execution. I also wanted to thank the leadership and safety teams from Bigelow Laboratory for their quick work in the initial evacuation and getting everyone safely out of the building, and also working closely with Fire Command and assisting us as the operation evolved.”

The final determination of the cause of the electrical smoke is currently under investigation.