Forest fire danger remains high despite some rain showers

There was steady rainfall overnight in southern Maine, but there wasn’t enough rain in the driest parts of the state in central and northern regions to reduce the fire danger, forest rangers said Friday.

The showers reached as far north as Lee but the rainfall was light in northern areas, said Jim Downie of the Maine Forest Service in Augusta. Lee, for example, received only 0.08 of an inch of rain.

The result is that conditions remained “bone dry” for much of Maine going into the Labor Day weekend, Downie said.

As of Friday, there had been 60 forest fires in the past week alone, and 200 fires this month. The good news was that the largest fire so far has been only 25 acres, he said.

The forecast doesn’t call for another chance of significant rain until Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service. Forest rangers are urging people to be especially careful with outdoor fires this weekend.

Fire permits often are required, and the public is asked to contact forest rangers before they light fires. Some restrictions may apply at remote campsites, Downie said.