Tinder-dry conditions spawn fires in central Maine

AUGUSTA – With fire danger remaining high statewide Thursday, a Forest Service official urged Mainers to be extremely careful around tinder-dry fields and woods which may not get another soaking until the weekend.

“If we make it through today, I suspect we’ll see a lessening of fire danger,” said Bill Williams, director of the forest protection division.

He called Thursday a critical, “milestone” day and appealed to people who smoke or use machinery that could cause sparks, and others who venture outdoors to be careful. Temperatures are expected to cool off some after Thursday and the air is expected to gain some humidity to ease the danger.

Williams’ warning came a day after warm, dry air gusting up to more than 30 mph helped spread brush and woods fires in central and southern Maine while knocking out power for thousands of utility customers.

At least five woods fires were reported in Oxford and Androscoggin counties. In Turner, firefighters using bulldozers cleared a perimeter around one fire to keep it from getting to homes and sheds in the area.

A teenager suspected of starting the Turner fire, which burned 30 acres, was charged with possession of fireworks that were believed to have sparked the blaze. What started out as a small fire spread quickly, shooting nearly as high as power lines and threatening homes and sheds.

No homes were reported damaged, but a shed burned down.

Firefighters from several towns working on the ground were assisted by a Maine Forest Service helicopter dropping water from the air.

In Auburn, which had sent three trucks to help out in Turner, a fire in a woods and field that threatened local homes was controlled before it could cause damage.

“This one had a lot of potential,” said Lt. Gary Simard, an Auburn fire prevention officer. Simard suspected a spark from an all-terrain vehicle may have touched off the blaze.

In Palmyra, a fire fed by stiff winds helped to burn down a landmark 170-year-old church Wednesday night.

The fire at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church was reported at about 7 p.m. Firefighters managed to save religious items such as crucifixes, candlesticks and collection plates, but were unable to save the church. Fire companies from a half-dozen towns helped at the scene. One firefighter was injured in a fall from a firetruck and was taken to a local hospital.

With warm and dry conditions persisting Thursday and no rain in sight until the weekend, the danger of fires remained high statewide.

Maine Forest Service: www.state.me.us/doc/mfs/firedanger/fire.shtml.