Rockland — Quick action by a passerby on Thursday morning, June 14 helped to save a gray, two-story house at 319 Broadway from burning down, said Rockland Fire Chief Charles Jordan at the scene.

The passerby, who turned out to be South Thomaston Fire Chief Bryan Calderwood, saw heavy smoke coming from the residence and called Rockland firefighters, Jordan said.

“We responded and found light to heavy smoke coming from the house,” he said. “We forced entry and attacked the seat of the fire on the first floor in the living room.”

“Simultaneously, we searched the house for occupants on the first and second floors. We found no one home,” he said.

Jordan said he would call the state fire marshal to investigate the cause.

“The call came in at 10:56,” Jordan said. “We went to a second alarm and brought in the Rockport Fire Department. They covered our station while we were here.”

About 25 to 30 firefighters arrived to quell the burning inside the house. The chief said no one was hurt, and there was no damage to the houses on either side.

He said the home had energy efficient windows, which can accelerate fire damage. A fire inside a home sealed by energy efficient windows continues to burn and causes damage, he said.

A Rockland police officer closed the intersection of Broadway and Rankin Street and re-routed traffic south on Rankin, while firefighters were at the scene.

Jordan learned that the house belonged to John Mullett.

Courier Publications reporter George Chappell can be reached at 207-594-4401, ext. 117, or at gchappell@courierpublicationsllc.com.

Firefighters enter the burning home. (Courtesy of: Rockland Fire Department)

(Courtesy of: Rockland Fire Department)