Crews return to blaze site to make sure fires out

Fire crews with an ATV prepare to tote a water-filled trailer up a steep hill off West Shore Drive at the peak of Thursday's blaze. (Harrison Thorp photo)

WEST LEBANON - Lebanon Fire Crews will be returning to West Lebanon today to check for any hot spots that might remain after yesterday’s brush fire that scorched about seven acres.

The blaze has been blamed on improper use of fireworks, which were set off in the middle of the woods in an area thick with tinder dry brush and deadwood.

Lebanon Fire Chief Skp Wood said neighbors heard the sound of fireworks going off Wednesday night around 9 or 10, and on Thursday fire crews found evidence of roman candles, sparklers and other fireworks being set off where the fire began.

While there are no suspects yet, neighbors said there is a lot of ATV activity in the woods at night and investigators from the Maine Forest Service are following up on those leads. 

The area where the blaze began is about a third of the way into the woods from West Shore Drive headed back toward T.M. Wentworth Road.

A West Shore Drive resident said on Thursday as firefighters began to battle the blaze that she’d smelled smoke but saw no flames when she awoke early Thursday morning, so it is likely the fire smoldered through the overnight before finally drawing the first alarm around 9:30 a.m.

Dozens of firefighters from surrounding towns battled the blaze for several hours through the midday and into late afternoon, with crews still working on hot spots in the early evening.

Wood said fire crews would return again today when it gets warmer to see if any hot spots have reignited, then if everything is OK, they’ll pack up their gear left overnight and return to the station.

Ironically, while the pesky blaze was taxing area firefighters, a River Road resident was having an unpermitted bonfire that got out of control and had to be extinguished by Lebanon crews already maxed out fighting the West Lebanon blaze.

Wood said that case would also be forwarded to the State Forest Service to see if any action should be taken against the homeowner.

With no rain in sight, Wood reminded area residents that no fires whatsoever are permitted.

Neither Maine nor Lebanon restrict the use of fireworks on Class IV Very High Fire Danger days like today, Wood said.

No property damage or injuries were reported due to the blaze.

The dry weather is expected to continue until next Thursday.