STARKS — More than 50 firefighters from 15 departments battled a woods fire off Route 43 on Wednesday morning on the Industry line.

The fire burned about 4.2 acres, Industry Fire Chief Kevin Gurney said.

It was reported at 10:51 a.m.

One firefighter was injured when he slipped on a rock and landed on his back with a pump on his back, Gurney said. Industry Fire and Rescue emergency medical technicians  treated him at the scene, but he declined to be taken to the hospital, Gurney said

Maine Forest Ranger Mark Rousseau was investigating but was called to another woods fire in New Vineyard. The cause of the Starks fire was still under investigation.

Smoke was spotted from Mile Hill Road in New Sharon, leading firefighters to the scene. They used Indian backpacks and pumps, pick axes, brush rakes and other hand tools to extinguish the fire. Tanker trucks were filled from Clearwater Pond in Industry.

The fire got into some downed trees, burned grass and got into brush, Gurney said. It traveled into the woods and burned decayed vegetation on the ground, he said. 

Fire departments assisting Industry were from Jay, Farmington, East Dixfield, Temple, Strong, New Sharon, Phillips, Wilton, Livermore Falls, Chesterville, Kingfield, New Vineyard, Starks and Anson-Madison.

NorthStar EMS ambulance personnel were also on the scene.

Industry was the last department to leave the scene at around 3:15 p.m.

NOTE: The article has been changed to reflect the correct agency treating the injured firefighter. Information was incorrectly submitted to the Sun Journal.

dperry@sunmediagroup.net

Copy the Story Link