AVON – A lightning strike Saturday is thought to be the cause of a fire discovered Monday smoldering in a small section of Mount Blue State Park. The fire was reported by a pilot flying over the area.
The top layer of organic matter on two-tenths of an acre was burning about midway up the south side of mountain in the park. Maine Forest Service rangers will continue to check the site to make sure it doesn’t rekindle underground, the Forest Service reported.
A helicopter from the Maine Forest Service carried four volunteer firefighters from Weld and Ranger Jay Bernard up the mountain and landed in a log yard about a half-mile from the fire, Ranger Mark Rousseau said.
A pilot reported seeing smoke about 10:30 a.m., he said.
Firefighters had hand tools and portable back tanks filled with water to extinguish the smoldering layer of decayed leaves and “duff,” a layer of organic matter that sits atop the soil.
The helicopter also dropped three buckets of water to help douse the fire, Rousseau said.
It took firefighters about five hours to dig out the area and wet it down, he said.
Rangers believe a small fire started after a lightning strike. The strike probably occurred on Saturday, the fire smoldering until it grew to the point that smoke could be seen.
About 12 people in all, including Carthage firefighters and Avon Fire Warden Duke Bachelder, helped the effort, Rousseau said.
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