The Police Department, along with the Fire Department and other first responders, helped evacuate the residents of Berwick Estates on Portland Street after a structure fire was called in at 3:52 p.m. June 25.
The fire at the assisted living facility, which started in a bathroom exhaust fan, was quickly extinguished and the residents were able to return home later that day.
Responding to the fire were two South Berwick fire engines, one tanker and a fire ladder; a Rollinsford engine; York Ambulance; and South Berwick police.
Town Manager Tim Pellerin, in his manager’s report at the July 8 Town Council meeting, commended the local responders for quickly moving the residents to safety and putting out the fire.
“Facility staff, along with police, fire, and EMS responders did an exceptional job evacuating more than 30 elderly residents from the facility who were transported to the Community Center using MSAD 35 buses until it was safe to return home later that evening,” said Pellerin, adding, “(Fire) Chief Hamel would like to commend the teamwork by all involved!”
The five local arrests during the two-week period occurred during motor vehicle stops, all but one for license and registration violations, according to Deputy Chief Scott Stephens.
A 43-yer old male from Eliot was charged with operating with a suspended registration June 20, 4:01 p.m. on Portland Street near the Berwick Line; 35-year-old male from South Berwick was charged with operating under the influence of alcohol June 22, 9:10 p.m., near the Ham Insurance Agency and Portland Street; 25-year-old male from Berwick was charged with operating after license suspension June 24, 6:56 p.m., near Cumberland Farms and Route 236; 31-year-old female from South Berwick was charged with operating with a suspended registration June 17, 3:13 p.m., on Emery’s Bridge Road; and 54-year-old male from Dover was charged with operating without a valid license on June 28, 8:05 p.m., near Dover Eliot Road and Waterside Lane.
There were seven accidents listed, with no injuries reported:
- June 16, 2:55 p.m., near Route 236 and Farmgate Road
- June 16, 8:50 p.m., near Hooper Sands and Black Swan roads
- June 20, 2:37 p.m., near Boyd’s Corner and Thurrell roads
- June 22, 7:08 p.m., on Ogunquit Road
- June 22, 4:05 p.m., on York Woods Road
- June 27, 5:29 p.m., on Main Street
- June 29, 10:45 a.m., near Emery’s Bridge and Old Emery’s Bridge roads
The following is a summary of log entries for June 16 through June 29:
- Motor vehicle stops: 112 (99 warnings, 5 arrests, 1 court summons, 2 no action)
- Directed patrols: 116
- Animal complaints: 17
- Medical assists: 12
- Suspicious activities: 10
- Found/lost properties: 7
- Assist citizens: 6
- Community police contacts: 5
- Welfare checks: 5
- Noise complaints: 3
- Soliciting: 3
- Trespassing: 3
- Disabled vehicles: 2
- Harassment: 2
- Line/tree down: 2
- Odor/gas leak: 2
- Parking violations: 2
- Road hazards: 2
- Civil complaint: 1
- Disturbance: 1
- Domestic disturbance: 1
- Vandalism: 1
- Sex offender registration: 1
- Structure fire: 1
- Electric hazard: 1
- Motor vehicle slide off: 1
- Juvenile offense: 1
- Foot patrol: 1
- Brush fire: 1
- Alarm/commercial fire: 1
- Stolen vehicle: 1
- Civil complaint: 1
- Missing person: 1
