Illegal Campfires are Creating Problems in Washington County
Maine Forest Rangers are asking for the public's help finding the person(s) lighting illegal fires Downeast.
Illegal Campfires Were Discovered Along the Shores of West Grand Lake
A campfire can be a lot of fun, when it's done right. If it's lit in an approved fire pit/fireplace then it's great for singing songs around and toasting marshmallows over for s'mores. But an illegal fire can cause major headaches for firefighters and forest rangers who have to deal with the aftermath.
That's what's happening along the shores of West Grand Lake, in a remote area of the Downeast region, where several illegal campfires have been lit by someone. The campfires were left unattended and spread into the forest.
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The Two Illegal Campfires Spread Into the Woods of Washington County
Fire Rangers said, in a post on the department's Facebook page, that the fires have been in areas that are difficult to access and have burned into the duff, making them tough to extinguish. Forest Ranger Kent Nelson told WLBZ-TV that two fires are being investigated that, combined, caused $8,000 in damages. Those fires occurred on September 25th and August 28th.
Burn Permits are Free in Maine and Available Online
A new law in Maine requires a burn permit for any outdoor burn exceeding three feet in height and three feet in diameter that's not for debris disposal. Residents are also forbidden for Mainers to burn outdoors during red flag warning days. Burn permits are free and available online or from local fire departments.
Anyone with information about someone camping and having fires in the area is encouraged to call 207-827-1800 or email Maine.forestrangers@maile.gov.
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