1977 Baxter forest fire rattled reporter at scene

BAXTER STATE PARK – Returning to Baxter State Park 25 years after the big fire brought back memories of some nerve-wracking moments for me.

I was reporting during the second week of the massive wildfires sweeping through the park when I hopped a ride on July 24, 1977, in a single-engine Beaver seaplane that was dumping water onto the flaming forests.

But after refilling its 150-gallon water tank from the West Branch of the Penobscot River, the aircraft got caught in a wind shift and was unable to gain enough elevation to clear the trees.

Pilot Dan Pelletier killed the power and skillfully guided the plane into the tree-lined riverbank where we crashed with a thud. We both escaped unharmed, but I later learned that the state-owned plane was totaled.

My latest visit to the park was not entirely unlike the one 25 years ago. Once again it was hot, with temperatures in the mid-80s, and there was smoke in the air. But this time it was from forest fires raging across the border in Canada.

During the visit, I obtained a copy of the report by the board that reviewed the fire, and I learned that I never should have been on the plane.

“[T]he reporter who was in the plane which was destroyed, was riding in violation of our policy covering such matters,” the report stated.