Berwick, Maine Captain Joel Barnes died trying to protect a fellow firefighter inside a burning building. He was 32 years old. The flames broke out at a two-story apartment building on Bell Street in Berwick just after 11:30 a.m. on March 1. Flames and thick smoke could be seen across town and just minutes after the call, Captain Joel Barnes and three other firefighters arrived on scene. Berwick Fire Chief Dennis Plante says Captain Barnes and his partner made it to the third floor, but with the flames roaring, things took a turn. "It sounds like Captain Barnes did everything in his power to save his partner,” Chief Plante said. From there the fire quickly rose to four-alarms, but now the priority was to get Barnes and four other injured firefighters out. In the end, 14 departments helped rescue the other firefighters and put the flames out hours after the first call came in. “Captain Barnes did his duty and sacrificed his life for another, and in my opinion, he is a hero” Chief Plante said. At least 125 Fire Departments attended the memorial service for Captain Barnes.