By Diana Graettinger
Bangor Daily News (Maine)
Copyright 2007 Bangor Daily News
COLUMBIA, Maine. — A wildfire - the 10th over the past three days - burned nearly 14 acres, officials from the Maine Forest Service said Monday.
Workers from Cherryfield Foods called firefighters to an area near Schoodic Lake, District Ranger Jeff Courier said in a prepared release. Currier said the company told officials that they had lost control of a “prescribed blueberry burn on company property on what is locally known as the Cotton Fields.”
Firefighters from Columbia, Harrington and Cherryfield and two Maine forest rangers responded to the 1 p.m. blaze.
“The fire was burning through the mixed forest growth with moderate intensity and was easily controlled when help arrived,” Currier said. “The company crew assisted us through the entire effort, and their help is greatly appreciated.” No structures were threatened, and no one was injured. The company did have an open burning permit and had met all criteria listed on the permit. The company lost a blueberry burner in the fire.
According to Calais Fire Chief Danny Carlow, that means conditions are ripe for forest fires.
And even though the area was pounded last week by rain, nine communities battled small wildfires over the weekend including Cherryfield, East Machias, Machiasport, Eastport, Harrington, Cutler, Princeton, Baileyville and Perry, Currier said in one of the two press releases issued Monday.
“Drop a match in a field and it will show you in about three seconds,” Carlow said Monday of the dry conditions. “It’s a regular springtime cycle, and even though we did get a tremendous amount of rain, within a day or two of sunshine that’s basically evaporated and you have all the dead fuels that are left from the fall and winter that are dried right up.”
According to the forest service, most of the fires were quickly contained, resulting in just a few acres being burned.
Around 3 p.m. Friday, the East Machias Fire Department responded to a wildfire on the Chases Mill Road at Junior’s Snowmobile and Boat Repair Shop. “Upon arrival, firefighters found a fire burning in 2 acres of grass and brush, which had spread to a boat being stored on the property,” Currier said. Ranger Andrew Gacek of the Jonesboro office also responded to the fire.
“According to the ranger, Richard Murray, 37, of Machias was working at the facility and was burning items outside when the fire escaped his control,” the press release said. “Since no open burning permit was issued, Murray was summoned for failing to possess or produce an open burning permit.”
If convicted, Murray could be fined and requested to pay the cost to battle the fire. Damage to the boat was estimated at around $9,000, Currier said.
Carlow said the best way to handle spring cleanup debris is to take it to the landfill.
“But if you feel you must burn, you have to follow state law, which requires [people] to get a burning permit from their local fire chief and then go by the restrictions on that permit,” the chief said.
For spring burns in Calais, the chief said there are restrictions. “It is becoming more common not to be able to burn until after 5 p.m.,” he said. “First, there is a shortage of firefighters ... [because] most of them are volunteers and [departments] don’t have the resources to fight a fire during the day. The second is the wind factor. The wind picks up during the day and usually goes down in the evening.”
The Maine Forest Service also urges the public to acquire an open burning permit from local fire officials before doing any open burning, Currier said. “Rangers also seek to remind people to adhere to all conditions and restrictions listed on their permit,” the press release added.
Over the weekend, rangers issued several summonses to residents found in violation of open burning regulations. With no significant rain predicted for the reminder of the week, Currier urged caution when burning. “We will be working closely with local fire officials to strictly enforce all of Maine’s fire regulations and to respond quickly to any wildfires,” he said in the release.