NORRIDGEWOCK — An intentional fire in a field off Winding Hill Road in Norridgewock burned more than 7 acres Wednesday, but firefighters were able to prevent it from spreading into nearby woods, according to officials.
About 15 firefighters from three towns battled the blaze for about five hours, finishing at about 7 p.m., according to Chief David Jones of the Norridgewock Fire Department.
Jones described the fire as illegal, saying the person who started it had apparently planned to burn hay that was not mowed last fall.
“She was supposed to do it (the fire) a little later on, like after 6 p.m., but decided to do a test spot and ended up burning 7.2 acres before we got done,” Jones said Thursday. “She was doing what she wasn’t supposed to do.
“Nobody got hurt. We had great help from Smithfield and Skowhegan. Between three departments, we got it contained before it got into the woods.”
An official from the Maine Forest Service arrived at the scene as part of the investigation.
Jim Britt, spokesman for the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry, wrote in an email Thursday he could not provide the property owner’s name or status of any charges because it is an open investigation.
Britt confirmed 7.2 acres had burned at 618 Winding Hill Road, and Jones’ description of the cause of the fire was correct.
Winding Hill Road extends northwest from the town center, following the path of the Kennebec River.
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