Aroostook County Emergency Management

06/01/2026

STOP means STOP.
In the last 30 days, we have had three separate incidents where vehicles failed to stop for school buses with flashing red lights. In two of these cases, bus drivers had to stop students from crossing the road to prevent a tragedy.
All three drivers involved were issued summonses to court.
Know the Law: Maine Title 29-A, §2308
It is a Class E crime in Maine to pass a school bus that is stopped to receive or discharge passengers with its red lights flashing and stop-arm extended. This law applies on all public highways, private roads, and parking areas.
The Consequences:
Minimum Fine: $250 for a first offense.
Please, stay alert and prioritize our children’s safety. When you see those red lights, come to a complete stop. Let’s work together to keep our roads safe for everyone.

06/01/2026

Northern Aroostook residents and visitors:
Spruce budworm treatment activities are expected to begin as early as May 26.

During the program, some ATV trails and private roads may be temporarily closed, and helicopters may fly low over treatment areas. Treatments will only occur in forested areas enrolled in the program by participating landowners.

Please visit https://www.sprucebudwormmaine.org/what-is-spruce-budworm... for information on the Early Intervention Strategy.

06/01/2026

🚨 WHERE DO YOU CHARGE YOUR PHONE? 🚨

Many people charge their phones on beds, couches, or even under pillows—especially at night.

While modern phones and chargers have built-in safety features, charging on soft surfaces can trap heat and reduce ventilation.

🔥 Why does this matter?

Pillows, blankets, and mattresses are combustible materials. If a charger, cable, battery, or device develops a fault, the trapped heat can increase the risk of overheating and potentially start a fire.

⚠️ The risk becomes higher when using:
❌ Damaged charging cables
❌ Counterfeit or low-quality chargers
❌ Damaged or swollen batteries
❌ Devices covered by blankets or pillows while charging

✅ Charge safely:
• Place devices on a hard, stable surface
• Use original or certified chargers
• Replace damaged cables immediately
• Keep charging devices away from bedding and other combustibles
• Install working smoke alarms in your home

💡 Fire Safety Reminder:
A phone charger should not normally ignite bedding by itself. However, faulty equipment, damaged batteries, and trapped heat can create dangerous conditions that increase fire risk.

A simple change in charging habits can help keep your home and family safe. 🚒🔥

Where do you usually charge your phone? Let us know in the comments.

06/01/2026

05/30/2026

📞 IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT 📞

Due to an increase in spam and telemarketing calls to department phone lines, Caribou Fire & Ambulance has implemented a new call attendant
system on the following business lines:

• 207-493-4204
• 207-493-4205
• 207-493-3306
• 207-493-3307

The new system will provide callers with options for permit activations, general inquiries, and direct contact with department staff including the Fire Chief, administrative office, and billing department.

🚨 We would also like to remind the public that 9-1-1 should always be used for emergencies. Dialing 9-1-1 remains the primary and fastest way to receive an emergency response. 🚨

05/27/2026

Your NWS in Caribou will be offering virtual Skywarn training sessions in June. They will be held on June 10th and June 17th between 6 and 7:15 pm. These are free and open to the public and all you need is a computer or tablet that has internet access.

Be sure to register at weather.gov/car/Outreach_Spotters. We look forward to seeing you there!

05/27/2026

NEW - Roadwork Closure
Caribou, Washburn Street will be closed to traffic today near Roosevelt Street, due to emergency sewer pipe replacement and repair work, follow local detour
Start Time: May 27 2026,

05/21/2026

***This is National Safe Boating Week…Today’s Subject is Cold Water Safety***
..Cold Water Safety...

Knowing some basic cold water immersion principles can greatly increase your chances of survival. Although the times are approximate, in general you should try to remember the 1-10-1 Principle.

The 1-10-1 Principle of Cold Water

0-1 minute........COLD SHOCK / RAPID BREATHING
In 10 minutes...LOSS OF MUSCLE CONTROL
In 1 hour...........HYPOTHERMIA

* 1 Minute to Control Your Breathing
You have one minute after being submerged in water to get your breathing under control and realize what has happened. This is due to the “cold shock” of the water temperature -- which causes involuntary gasping, making it hard to catch your breath. If breathing isn’t controlled immediately, the possibility of drowning drastically increases. Many people hyperventilate, faint, and drown before they are able to calm down their breathing.

* 10 Minutes of Muscle Control
After gaining your awareness, your body has about 10 minutes of meaningful movement. After that, it’s likely the cold water temperatures will cause a loss of control over hands, arms, and legs -- and you won’t be able to swim. If you can’t get out of the water within 10 minutes, stop moving and get into the Heat Escape Lessening Position https://www.boatus.org/cold-water-boating/help/ . Movement will deplete your energy faster and increase heat loss.

* 1 Hour until Hypothermia
There is approximately one hour until hypothermia will set in. Hypothermia is a condition in which the body loses heat faster than it can produce it -- this can cause violent shivering, unconsciousness, or cardiac arrest. Keep in mind that most cold water deaths occur well before this point -- only those wearing a life jacket will survive longer than 10 minutes in most cases.

To prove this point USCG 2019 boating accident statistics show out of the 107 accidents that occurred in water temperatures of 40-49 degrees there were 39 deaths. This means 36% of these accidents had a fatality. Compare this with the 1232 accidents when the water temperature was 70-79 degrees and there were 137 fatalities. With the warmer water temperatures the fatality probability drops to 11% of accidents.

https://www.weather.gov/safety/coldwater

05/21/2026

Emergency Power Outage Announcement

Maintenance Type: Equipment Repair

Location of Maintenance or Repair: Mapleton

Date of Maintenance/Repair: 5.21.2026

Time & Expected Duration: 1:00 p.m. for approximately two (2) hours

Description of Work:

Versant Power crews will be performing emergency repairs to an electrical line in Mapleton Today, Thursday, May 21st.

The work will begin around 1:00 p.m. and will take approximately two (2) hours to complete, affecting Castle Hill, Presque Isle, Squa Pan, Mapleton and Chapman.

Roughly 1500 customers may experience service interruptions during this time as crews repair equipment, improve reliability and prevent future outages.

For your safety:

Motorists are urged to slow down or move over and change lanes, when possible, if approaching utility crews working on roadways.
Never touch a downed power line or a tree in contact with a downed line.

Customers who use generators are reminded to ensure they are used in accordance with manufacturer guidelines at all times.
Customer information:

05/21/2026