WILTON — A Phillips man escaped serious injuries Tuesday evening when an RV he was driving on Main Street caught fire, came out of gear, rolled and struck a pole head-on.

The flames burned through Bee Line Cable fiber optic lines disrupting service for television, telephone and Internet customers in the Main Street area near Academy Hill School. A company technician worked through the night and all services were restored by mid-morning Wednesday, a representative from the Skowhegan-based company said later in the afternoon. She was not sure how many customers were affected.

Wilton Fire Chief Sonny Dunham said Steven Haines was driving an approximately 26-foot RV on Main Street from East Wilton toward Weld.

When he reached the Depot Street intersection near Academy Hill School and Cushing Street, a fan belt failed in the RV and it started a fire in the front of the vehicle, Dunham said. 

Haines stopped and either jumped or was pulled from the vehicle, which then came out of gear and started to roll. It crashed head-on into a utility pole in front of the former Main Street Garage and burst into flames.

Firefighters were called at about 5:45 p.m. and the RV was totally engulfed when they arrived. Flames shot up the pole burning through the Bee Line fiber optics. Firefighters were able to knock it down before it reached electrical wires even though the flames reached that high, he said. 

Front windows in the vacant Main Street garage were broken from the heat of the fire. It was pretty hot for a few minutes, he said.

Haines was taken to Franklin Memorial Hospital by NorthStar ambulance to be evaluated for breathing problems, Dunham said. Haines was alone in the RV.

Responding to a call that the driver was still in the vehicle, Dunham called for mutual assistance from East Dixfield and Jay. The firefighters filled the RV with foam smothering the fire.

There were 11 Wilton firefighters and seven from Jay and seven from East Dixfield who responded.

The RV was destroyed beyond repair and hauled from the scene by Dutch Gap Auto. Dunham was not sure of the model or year of the RV. He thought it was a second-hand vehicle and could not place a value on it.

The Wilton Public Safety building’s long distance phone and Internet service were out for part of Wednesday morning.

[email protected]