The fire chief of a neighboring department is prepared to testify that the Owls Head fire chief failed on several fronts in his response to a blaze that destroyed a commercial garage here in 2013, according to an attorney in a civil case.
South Thomaston Fire Chief Bryan Calderwood will be an expert witness and is ready to testify if the case goes to trial, according to a memorandum filed on Nov. 26 in a civil suit against the town of Owls Head, its fire chief, Frank Ross, and its volunteer fire department.
The initial lawsuit was filed in February by the garage owner, Cecil A. Fogg, and his company, Cecil A. Fogg Inc. of Owls Head.
Fogg’s attorney, Darby Urey, states that Calderwood, who has been South Thomaston’s chief since 2006 and has an associate’s degree in fire service from Southern Maine Technical College, will testify that Ross violated the standard of care in his response to the garage fire in several ways.
According to the memorandum, Ross did not take action to get more water to fight the fire, failed to give directions to mutual aid companies that responded, failed to communicate with other chiefs who responded, failed to direct his own crews, and did not take sufficient steps to protect personal property.
Calderwood responded to the fire and attended a subsequent review of firefighting efforts, according to the court filing.