LIVERMORE FALLS – A New Hampshire man was issued summonses Monday on charges of burning without a permit and burning trash, Fire Chief Ken Jones said.
Neal Ahren of Manchester, N.H., was burning trash in a barrel outside, which is illegal, and the fire spread to dead grass and vegetation and then to a barn and was heading toward a neighbor’s house on Park Street before firefighters could put it out, Jones said.
Traffic on Park Street, also known as Route 133, was detoured around the site. Firefighters ran hoses from a dry hydrant in a pond near Russ Hines’ home across the road to the former Turmel homestead.
About 80 firefighters from as far away as Wayne, Fayette and Farmington responded to help Livermore Falls firefighters with the fire at 554 Park St., Jones said. Jay, Wilton and East Dixfield firefighters also responded after they put out a grass fire on Lomie Rivers Road in Jay, the chief said.
A Livermore firetruck was at Livermore Falls Station Monday after it responded from a structure fire in Turner.
One side and the back of the 20- by 32-foot barn were burned, Jones said.
Owner Joe Luicha was in New Hampshire and Ahren, who is staying at the home, was doing work on the barn to convert it to an apartment, Jones said.
About 4 acres were burned, he said.
Maine Forest Service put up a red flag Monday indicating no outside burning, Jones said.
Outside incinerators are illegal, Jones said.
A Maine Forest Service representative was at the fire scene and issued the summonses to Ahren, the chief said.
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