Woods fire burns nearly an acre in East Wilton

WILTON — Nearly an acre of woods burned Monday afternoon off Terrace Drive in East Wilton.

No one was around the property. The owners live in Arizona, Wilton fire Chief Sonny Dunham said.

Maine Forest Ranger Jay Bernard of Dixfield was called to the scene and will determine the cause, Dunham said.

The property is behind the home of Glen Mullen at 87 Terrace Drive. Mullen’s son came home just before noon and saw smoke coming from the wooded hill behind the house and reported the fire.

It was quite a ways out and took nearly 500 feet of hose to reach the fire, Dunham said. Firefighters also approached the fire from the Blue Spruce Road. Terrace Drive and the Blue Spruce Road are behind the Sweden House.

There was no major damage. Leaves, grass, juniper bushes and pines were burned. Wind has dried out foliage on top of the land while underneath it is still wet from recent rains, the fire chief explained.

Along with Wilton Fire Department, mutual aid from Farmington Fire and Rescue, Jay Fire Department and East Dixfield Fire Department helped at the scene.

The firefighters had the fire under control by 1:45 p.m. but stayed there till almost 4 p.m. to be sure the wind didn’t pick it up and restart the burning. If the fire had not been spotted, it could have been an issue for neighboring homes, he said.

Attempts to reach Bernard on Monday were unsuccessful.

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