Nation IN BRIEF : MAINE : Ice-Jam Flooding Leaves Town a Mess

A flood that buried parts of Ft. Fairfield under seven feet of water subsided, allowing residents to return to their homes in what one official likened to a war zone. No injuries were reported in the flood, which was caused by an ice jam. Cleanup crews used heavy construction equipment to remove large chunks of ice scattered across the town by the Aroostook River. Town Manager Scott Seabury said nearly every building in the downtown area suffered at least cosmetic damage from the flood, which covered the farming community’s main street with seven feet of water. More than 50 people were evacuated from their homes before the ice that had formed a natural dam broke free, police said.