Tragedy Strikes First Responders Fighting Berwick Four Alarm Fire

Crews were on the scene in under 5 minutes after the blaze reported.

Yesterday, a Berwick fire fighter lost his life in a four alarm fire which ripped though an apartment building in Berwick, Maine. Maine State Fire Marshal Joe Thomas said “Captain Joel Barnes died from his injuries fighting this fire.” According to Fosters Daily Democrat,  the fire was so widespread that 16 departments responded. The six apartment units contained eight tenants, who were displaced by the fire. According to Fosters, They were uninjured and the Red Cross was on scene assisting the families. Currently, a cause of the fire is not known. Rochester’s Assistant Fire Chief Tim Wilder stated it's still under investigation.

Joel Barnes had been with the department for about two years. Previously, he had worked with Old Orchard Beach’s department. According to Joe Thomas, four other firefighters were transported to the hospital where they were treated and released.

Thomas said at the press conference “It is a difficult situation for all departments who responded today.” “They worked to save the occupants of the building and worked to save their own.”