Bangor International Airport drill puts staff and EMS to the test

VIDEO: Staff at Bangor International Airport, along with first responders and health care officials, staged a full-scale emergency exercise Tuesday, leaving the runway closed and the terminal empty of passengers. The drill, mandated by the Federal Aviation Administration, simulated a fire involving two planes on the tarmac, represented by Bangor city buses. Using the International Terminal as an emergency operations center, staff from several government agencies formulated a response to the scenario under the watch of evaluators. “It helps us avoid complacency,” airport director Jose Saavedra said Tuesday. “It helps us make sure everyone has the procedures either memorized or know how to get the answers when something like this would happen.”
WCSH-TV NBC 6 Portland

Hurricane Awareness Tour stops in Portland to warn Mainers to prepare for upcoming hurricane season

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) held an educational event at the Portland Jetport on Monday and cautioned Mainers to prepare hurricane emergency plans before the summer begins. Serving as its first stop, NOAA's 2024 Hurricane Awareness Tour is aimed at spreading awareness about the upcoming Atlantic hurricane season beginning in June. NOAA and the National Hurricane Center held the Portland event at one of the Jetport's hangers. While Mainers along the coast are especially at risk of hurricanes, storm surge flooding caused by strong storms can also affect those inland. "If the rivers are connected to those oceans, storm surge can be extremely significant upriver," said Dr. Cody Fritz, the team lead for the Storm Surge Unit at the National Hurricane Center.
Maine Public

Multiple vehicles damaged in fire at York auto body shop

PHOTO: Multiple vehicles were damaged in a fire at Moody's Collision in York early Monday morning. Firefighters were called to the auto body shop on Route 1 at about 4:10 a.m. for a reported vehicle fire. While crews were on their way, they learned that multiple vehicles were on fire with exposure to more vehicles. All of the vehicles involved were parked outside the auto shop. The cause of the fire was still under investigation Monday afternoon.
WMTW-TV ABC 8 Poland Spring

Old Town will once again have a fire chief

Old Town has opted to hire a fire chief instead of filling its public safety director position, which has been vacant since mid-December. Kyle Milan, who was hired last September as the deputy chief, began his role as chief on Monday. Before joining Old Town’s department, he spent 22 years in the Maine Air National Guard. He was a firefighter and climbed the ranks to become chief overseeing the Bangor International Airport, he said. Old Town’s former public safety director, Scott Wilcox, stepped down in December to become chief executive officer at the Old Town-Orono YMCA. He held the position for six years. The city had plans to fill the position and began advertising it in January, City Manager Bill Mayo said previously. Mayo was not available to comment Monday about why the city chose to go a different route.
Bangor Daily News - Metered Site

Fuel spill into underground electrical utility closes Main Street in Westbrook

A large fuel spill into an underground electrical utility has led to the closure of Main Street in Westbrook on Tuesday. The closure is in the area of 925 Main Street, the Westbrook Fire Department said in a 7:42 a.m. social media post. Businesses in the area were evacuated and their power was turned off, according to the post. The fuel spill happened at Friendly Gas Station, fire officials told NEWS CENTER Maine. As much as 800 gallons may have been spilled, the post stated. The fire department said crews would remain on scene and the road would remain closed until the hazard is mitigated. Central Maine Power and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection also responded to the scene, fire officials said.
WCSH-TV NBC 6 Portland