Outdoors enthusiasts can increase fire safety

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For most of us, most of the time, wildfires are an abstract concept that happens to other people, in other places, or during other times. Frightening? Sure. But abstract nonetheless.

We listen and read and watch as the seemingly annual fires spread across California, threatening lives and property 3,000 miles away. We’re glad things like that don’t happen here.

We hear stories about the Bar Harbor fire of 1947 … the massive Baxter State Park fire that raged for days some 30 years later … and we’re glad we don’t see fires like that any more.

Then, a couple of fires crop up closer to home, and the thought process changes.

It could happen here … and now.

Last week a small wildfire in Dedham scorched six acres just a few miles from my family’s camp. That certainly caught my attention. Over the weekend, a larger blaze burned 130 acres Down East.

On Monday, I did a bit of Internet browsing and learned that in most areas of the state, the fire danger rating is listed as “low,” or “class one.” In one section (which includes the area of the Down East blaze), the fire danger rating is at “moderate,” or “class two.”

Then I spoke with Kent Nelson, a fire prevention specialist with the Forest Protection Division of the Maine Forest Service, and he told me an interesting fact.

“We’ve been at class one or class two for the last few weeks,” Nelson said. “But ironically, most of our fires are on a class two day.”

That’s right: If you’re a firefighter in Maine, you’re more apt to find yourselves in the woods fighting a wildfire on a day of moderate danger than you are on a day with extreme danger.

The reason is quite simple, Nelson said.

“The town wardens that issue [burn] permits don’t usually issue permits on days above class two,” he said. “So on a class two day, you could have more people burning and more chances of a fire getting away, even though the conditions aren’t as volatile as they are on a class three or a class four day.”

Nelson said that modern firefighters have some advantages that those who battled the devastating Bar Harbor fire in ’47 didn’t.

“The local fire departments are much better trained and have better equipment and communications,” Nelson said.

Cell phones have also helped firefighters, as tips on untended fires are often phoned in by motorists.

But in the wake of the recent fires, it’s not a bad idea for outdoors enthusiasts to reconsider some of the ways they’re enjoying themselves in the woods.

Nelson said that most of Maine’s wildfires are caused by humans, and usually start because people aren’t careful enough with their campfires or while burning debris around the house.

And while the official fire danger rating may be “low” or “moderate,” Nelson said that drier times are coming, and Mainers ought to be aware.

“This is generally the time of year when things start to dry out,” Nelson said. “I’ve seen some brown lawns. That’s an indicator that the soil is getting dry.”

Nelson said that when the soil and vegetation, or “duff,” dry out, there are more fires, and the fires are harder to put out.

For many of us, a camping excursion isn’t complete without a nice, crackling campfire.

Sitting around a fire, swapping stories and watching the flames dance, is one of the simplest pleasures you’ll find while enjoying the outdoors.

Nelson said even well-meaning campers can unwittingly cause problems if they don’t tend their fire properly.

“With weekend campers, they have the fire burning all weekend and get ready to head out on Sunday. They throw a bucket of water on it and head off down the highway. That fire could easily rekindle,” he said.

Nelson advises campers to do what Maine Forest Service staffers call “working the fire.”

“We recommend that after you put the water on it, you stir the coals with a rake or a shovel,” he said. “Then go and load your car or your truck for 10 or 15 minutes and check [the fire] again.”

Nelson said campers should put a hand over the fire’s coals, and see if they’re feeling any heat. Stirring the wet coals and adding more water will eventually do the trick, but many campers leave prematurely, assuming that their fire is out when it’s not.

As far as household burn piles are concerned, Nelson said town burn permits often include information about safety issues.

He said having a minimum of two adults tending a burn pile is essential, and those adults should have a garden hose, shovel and rake at the ready.

Nelson said most people want to do the right thing, and want a safe fire.

But it doesn’t take much for a safe situation to turn into a dangerous one. The consequences could be tragic … and they could be expensive.

“Not only could there be fine involved, [someone whose fire gets away from them] could also be charged with restitution, and for the cost of repressing the fire,” Nelson said. That can amount to thousands of dollars for something that could have been easily avoided.”

jholyoke@bangordailynews.net

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