Firefighters from several York County communities fought a fire at this summer camp on East Shore Road in East Waterboro on Thursday morning. No one was injured. TAMMY WELLS/Journal Tribune

Firefighters from several York County communities fought a fire at this summer camp on East Shore Road in East Waterboro on Thursday morning. No one was injured. TAMMY WELLS/Journal Tribune

WATERBORO — Firefighters from half a dozen communities fought a fire at a lakeside summer cottage in subzero temperatures early Thursday morning.

Waterboro Fire Chief Matthew Bors said the cottage was vacant and well-engulfed in flames when departments arrived on the scene at 12A East Shore Road shortly after the fire was reported by a passerby around 4:40 a.m.

No firefighters were injured, but Bors said fighting the fire was challenging in – 5 degree temperatures.  He said the cold temperatures proved challenging and combined with the wind blowing across Little Ossipee Pond made for difficult conditions.

Bors pointed to the unplowed driveway at the scene.

“Access became a problem,” he said.  Firefighters had to climb up over snowbanks and into the yard where the snow was several inches deep.

He said hand lines tend to freeze up in cold weather and mist on the gear freezes as well. And while pumps were working in this morning’s fire, when the weather is really cold, they can freeze up.

As well as Waterboro, firefighters from Alfred, Hollis, Limerick, Buxton, Goodwins Mills  and Ross Corner Fire Company fought the blaze.

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Firefighters were able to leave just before 8 a.m. 

The State Fire Marshal’s office is investigating.

Bors said the camp was purchased by by Mark and Beth McAndrews of Watertown, Massachusetts in August.

— 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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