ME Fire Capt. Michael Bell ID’d As Victim Monday Farmington Leap Explosion Brother Terry Injured

FARMINGTON, ME. (THECOUNT) — Multiple people were injured and firefighter, Capt. Michael Bell, killed, following an explosion at a Farmington, Maine facility that serves the disabled, according to reports. Bell’s brother, Fire Chief Terry Bell, was named as one of those injured in the explosion.

In all, Farmington police confirmed that one firefighter was killed and six others were injured in an explosion Monday morning.

Bell, 68, was killed in the blast. He was a 30-year member of the Farmington Fire Department.

The six injured were identified as 62-year-old Fire Chief Bell. Timothy D. Hardy, 40; Capt. Scott Baxter, 37, and his father, firefighter Theodore Baxter, 64; firefighter Joseph Hastings, 24, and Larry Lord, 60, reports WMTW.

Farmington Police and the Farmington Fire Dept. responded to reports of a major explosion occurring before 8:30 a.m. on Monday at Leap Inc. facility, located at 313 Farmington Falls Rd, in Farmington, ME.

Multiple crews responded to the explosion including a helicopter.

Officials are asking drivers to avoid the area of Farmington Falls Road.

No word yet on how many people have been injured or the extent of their injuries, reports NewsCenterMaine.

Viewers from as far as Summer and Mt. Vernon, Maine tell NEWS CENTER Maine they heard the explosion.

According to their website, Leap Inc. supports people with developmental, cognitive and intellectual disabilities to be actively involved in their home communities. Leap provides a variety of supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Our programs are successful through building strong relationships of trust, valuing the individuality of each situation and person we serve, and supporting the families in our communities.

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Geo quick facts: Farmington is a town in and the county seat of Franklin County, Maine, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 7,760. Farmington is home to the University of Maine at Farmington, the Nordica Memorial Auditorium, the Homestead, and the annual Farmington Fair. Maine, the northeasternmost U.S. state, is known for its rocky coastline, maritime history and nature areas like the granite and spruce islands of Acadia National Park. Moose are plentiful in Baxter State Park, home to Mt. Katahdin, endpoint of the Appalachian Trail. Lighthouses such as the candy-striped beacon at West Quoddy Head, dot the coast, as do lobster shacks and sandy beaches like Ogunquit and Old Orchard – Wikipedia.