2 plead guilty to fire caused by fireworks

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Two men pleaded guilty Monday in 13th District Court to charges in connection with a forest fire that consumed a camp on Onawa Lake in July.

Keith Donnan, 28, of Cinnaminson, N.J., and Joseph Kaiser, 25, of Palyma, N.J., pleaded guilty and were each fined $100 for illegal possession of fireworks, $150 for reckless conduct, and $500 for illegal disposal of lighted material. They also were ordered to share fire suppression costs of $3,384, of which $1,318 is for the Monson Fire Department and the remainder for the Maine Forest Service.

Donnan and Kaiser were both implicated in a fire on July 4 that was caused by fireworks. The fire smoldered before igniting into a blaze that eventually destroyed some forest land and a camp owned by Roger Page.

The insurance carriers for the men have agreed to cover the restitution costs to Page, according to District Attorney R. Christopher Almy.

“There’s a potential for major consequences if you recklessly use either fireworks or other lighted material in such a summer as this,” Almy said.

In another case Monday, one of four men arrested for fish and game violations pleaded guilty to four offenses that occurred on Mountain View Pond in Township A, Range 11 on June 3.

Corey Austin, 18, of Millinocket was sentenced to 30 days in jail for use of worms in waters for fly fishing only, killing brook trout from waters designated for catch and release only, unauthorized use of property (a canoe) and criminal mischief for his involvement in breaking a chain to gain access to the canoe.