FREEPORT

Fire razes garage and trailer, damages kitchen of house

A fire that started Sunday morning in a garage and spread to a camper trailer also damaged a nearby three-bedroom home on Fernald Road in Freeport.

Fire Chief Darrel Fournier said the cause of the blaze remains under investigation but added that an electric heater in the garage at 92 Fernald Road may have started it. There was also an electric heater operating in the camper.

By the time firefighters arrived at 8:30 a.m., the garage and trailer were engulfed in flames, Fournier said. Strong gusts of wind blew the flames toward the residence, a manufactured home. Fournier said the fire damaged the kitchen but did not spread to other parts of the home.

The homeowner and his adult son, who also was living in the camper trailer, escaped without injuries. They were able to return to their home Sunday night. Total damage to the property was estimated at about $130,000.

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The Brunswick, Yarmouth, Durham and Pownal fire departments helped fight the blaze.

Sunday’s fire was the sixth fire in Freeport since November. Fournier said those fires were caused by food left on stoves and malfunctioning electrical equipment in the homes.

FRYEBURG

Teen driver taken to hospital after head-on crash into tree

Stanley Hill Road in Fryeburg had to be shut down for more than an hour Sunday after an 18-year-old driver lost control of his vehicle, went off the road, and struck a tree head-on.

Logan Burnell had to be extricated from his parents’ 2002 Jeep Liberty after he lost control of the sport utility vehicle in an area where snow had drifted onto the road. Police Sgt. Joshua Potvin said the snow was driven onto the road by high winds. The accident took place around 3:30 p.m.

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Potvin said the SUV crossed lanes before striking the tree head-on. Burnell was transported to Bridgton Hospital with what police described as non-life threatening injuries.

BANGOR

Military personnel view Sox trophy at Kings’ event

Red Sox fans who are members of the military got a special viewing of the 2013 World Series trophy courtesy of two of the team’s big fans.

Stephen and Tabitha King and Operation Community Support teamed up for the private event for military personnel Sunday before public events in Bangor and Orono.

The 2013 trophy, along with championship trophies from 2004 and 2007, were to go on public display after the private event at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor. Another event was planned at the University of Maine’s Alfond Arena.

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The trophies were on view in Portland and Freeport on Saturday.

AUGUSTA

Maine’s Labor Department introduces six bills

Maine’s Labor Department is introducing six new bills.

One seeks to expand the areas where minors are allowed to work under Maine law to include places like bowling alleys and movie theaters to conform to federal law.

Another seeks to streamline the process for drug testing in the workplace. The department said the bill would create a single, consistent model for employers to establish policies.

The bills will have public hearings this week and in early February.

– From staff and news services


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