SOUTH WATERBORO — Fire raced through  Brookfield Place plaza  at 1009 Main Street on Sunday, July 16, engulfing the building and its contents and destroying three businesses.

Smoke could be seen from miles away. Traffic was re-routed around that portion of Main Street, which is state Route 202.

The fire consumed three businesses: Plummer’s Hardware, Family Dollar and Asian Taste Restaurant.

No employees of the businesses were injured  but one firefighter was taken to the Sanford campus of Southern Maine Health Care and treated for heat exhaustion, while  other firefighters were treated for the malady at the scene.

Firefighters from Waterboro and 15 surrounding communities used three ladder trucks to apply water form nearby hydrants  to the metal building.

Family Dollar manager Barbara French who stood with others as firefighters worked to douse the flames that Sunday morning said employees at Plummer’s Ace Hardware rushed in to the store to tell her of the  fire. French and the half-dozen customers inside the store got out safely. 

“Ten minutes later the whole thing went up,”  French said as she watched from the scene about 10:30 a.m. on the day of the fire.

 The extensive damage to the structure meant the cause remains listed as undetermined.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.