01/15/2008

from the Kennebec Journal
Rep. Pingree hears varied proposals for health-care solutions
HALLOWELL Fire that cut communications labeled arson
MONMOUTH Police defended after slim budget rejection
State's schools chief to parley
Wasser will lead newsrooms at KJ, Sentinel and in Portland
BRIEFS
Hockey still in picture for Harrington
Portland boxer to face legend's son
All of today's:
News | Sports
from the Kennebec Journal
from the Morning Sentinel
$1.3 MILLION FOR HEALTHREACH
Families Matter grows to meet special needs
Chellie Pingree listens to ideas on health care reform
FARMINGTON Rain alters plans for 4th of July
District regroups after budget failure
Vote on county budget hits snag
Burnham driver wins checkered flag at 2 tracks on same day
Maine boxer gets unique opportunity
All of today's:
News | Sports
from the Morning Sentinel
Firefighters from four towns battled the 6:49 p.m. blaze after arriving at the beef farm in a blinding snowstorm.
"I've got a tractor, loader, feed wagon, Skid Steer (front-end loader), all the tools in there," said Bruce Kingsbury, as he stood on the snowy road and watched the barn collapse. "She's gone."
Kingsbury, who lives just down the road from the barn, operates the beef farm for owner Steve McGee of Gardiner. Kingsbury said the wood barn with metal roof and sides was about 70-by-40-feet and built in 1972.
It appeared by 7:40 p.m. that firefighters from Vassalboro, Winslow, China and South China were able to spare a seed barn to the north of the burning structure as well as an equipment shed to the south.
Kingsbury said he believed the barn was insured.
"You never have enough (insurance) anyway," he said.
He said he could not say how the fire started.
"I haven't worked in there for four or five days," he said.
A couple who own a dairy farm next door, Donna and John Fisher, also stood on the road watching firefighters yank on large sheets of metal from the roof and try to haul them away from the fire. The Fisher farm is about 400 feet from the equipment barn.
Donna Fisher said she called 911 when she looked out the window and saw flames.
"My tenant called and said there was a fire next door," she said. "We were concerned because we didn't know if we had to evacuate. Our barn is full of hay and animals."
The Fishers said the beef operation has only been in business about five years. Before that, it was a dairy farm operated by Thelma Rancourt, who still lives in the farm house on Dunham Road, John Fisher said.
The equipment shed to the south of the burning barn housed methanol until about five months ago, he said. Randy Bean had stored the methanol there but moved it to U.S. Route 201, he said.
The fire occurred about 10 miles from Augusta and about eight miles from Cumberland Farms in Winslow, according to Fisher. Dunham Road connects to U.S. Route 201 on either end, he said.
The Fishers have 180 cows on their farm. John Fisher said the seed barn to the north of the burning barn is owned by Newman Gamage of Augusta.
Amy Calder -- 861-9247
acalder@centralmaine.com




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