Firefighters from Alfred and several surrounding communities fought a blaze at a commercial building at 122 Sanford Road Friday night. No one was injured. COURTESY PHOTO/Alfred Fire Department

Firefighters from Alfred and several surrounding communities fought a blaze at a commercial building at 122 Sanford Road Friday night. No one was injured. COURTESY PHOTO/Alfred Fire Department

ALFRED — The cause of a fire at commercial building at 122 Sanford Road on Friday night is currently undetermined and remains under investigation by the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

Alfred Fire Chief David Lord said firefighters were called to the structure on Sanford Road (Route 202) at about 7:30 p.m. Friday. He said there were several calls from folks reporting there was smoke showing from the roof of the building at the end nearest to Sanford. 

This commercial building at 122 Sanford Road in Alfred was damaged by fire, which broke out Friday evening. No one was injured. The office of the State Fire Marshal is investigating. TAMMY WELLS/Journal Tribune

This commercial building at 122 Sanford Road in Alfred was damaged by fire, which broke out Friday evening. No one was injured. The office of the State Fire Marshal is investigating. TAMMY WELLS/Journal Tribune

Firefighter Tom Gilman, who lives nearby, confirmed to firefighters there was a working fire on the property, Lord said on Saturday.

Firefighters relied on tankers to supply water to the structure until they could align hose to a hydrant about 1,400 feet away.

Fire officials said the building was recently leased for use as a medical marijuana cultivation operation.  While the cause remains under investigation, Lord said the fire started in the end of the building where the operation was located and that the roof had collapsed on top of it.

The building had been a restaurant many years ago and later became the Alfred location of  the Sanford-based Downeast Flowers and Gifts until it closed about 10 years ago.

Downeast Flowers and Gifts owner Debbie Cary said after the closure, the property was leased as an apartment for a time until about a year ago. She said the building had most recently been leased four months ago. 

No one was inside when the fire broke out, said Lord and no firefighters were injured fighting the fire.

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He said the fire was knocked down relatively quickly and the department was able to release mutual aid departments after a couple of hours. Firefighters remained on the scene for some time to put out hotspots.

Lord  said the building is not usable.

The department calls in the state fire marshal’s office when fires involve a commercial business.

Cary said it was too soon to determine next steps for the property.

Sanford, Waterboro, Goodwin’s Mills and Kennebunk fire departments and Ross Corner Fire Company assisted Alfred Fire Department fighting the blaze.

Lord said the department called for extra tankers from Lebanon, Hollis and Kennebunk, but was able to set up the line to the hydrant quicker than anticipated and so they were not needed.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.


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