Maine forest rangers sent to wildfires in Quebec

AUGUSTA – In response to a spate of lightning-caused wildfires in the Canadian province of Quebec, Maine and New Hampshire have mobilized firefighting crews to assist in control efforts.

The Maine Department of Conservation’s Maine Forest Service dispatched eight forest rangers and one forester to Baie Comeau, Quebec.

The Baie Comeau area, more than six hours northeast of Quebec City, has seen more than 60 lightning-strike fires over the last few days.

The Maine Forest Service mobilized one 21-person wildland fire crew Thursday. The crew, lead by MFS Forest Ranger Mike Daigle, was scheduled to leave Bangor International Airport on Thursday. They planned to fly to Presque Isle to pick up the remainder of the crew.

Joining Daigle on the Maine team are Forest Rangers Sprague Wise, Dustin Pickering, Kevin Somers, John Cousins, Alicia Rautenberg and Sam Heffner, and forester Ken Canfield.

They will be joined by 13 civilian firefighters from northern Maine.

MFS Ranger Brad Bucknell and two Maine civilian firefighters joined a New Hampshire firefighting team in Manchester, N.H. earlier in the day. Ranger Bucknell will serve as Crew Boss.

These Wildland Firefighting crews are being mobilized as part of the agreement between members of the Northeastern Forest Fire Protection Commission, which covers the seven New England States, the New England National Forests and three Provinces in Canada (New Brunswick, Quebec and Nova Scotia).

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