Blueberry grower enters innocent plea in fire case

ELLSWORTH – An attorney representing an Orland blueberry grower accused of failing to extinguish a fire entered a plea of innocent on his client’s behalf Thursday in Ellsworth District Court.

Jeffrey Allen of G.M. Allen & Son did not appear in court. Instead, his Ellsworth attorney, Robert Granger, entered the plea. Granger said the plea was entered as a formality because he doesn’t know specifically what Allen has been charged with.

“I haven’t seen the formal complaint yet,” Granger said. “You can’t evaluate a case until you see the investigative reports.”

Allen was summoned by the Maine Forest Service after a fire broke out May 14 in a 20-acre blueberry field in Bucksport. A permit for a controlled burn in the field had been issued a few days before the fire flared up and threatened homes on nearby Route 15.

Rangers with the Maine Forest Service said the fire re-ignited when strong winds fanned hot spots still smoldering from the controlled burn. More than 100 firefighters from roughly 30 departments responded to the blaze before it was put out.

According to District Attorney Michael Povich, Jeffrey Allen has been charged with the misdemeanor because his name was on the permit issued for the controlled burn. He said Allen, if found guilty, could be required to pay up to $10,000 of the fire suppression costs.

Granger said he expects to receive reports detailing the charges from the Maine Forest Service within the next 10 days. He added that the District Attorney’s Office can file charges that are different from those listed on the initial summons form. The court has scheduled the trial for Aug. 20.