Soaking rain the only cure for current brush fire danger

With no substantial rains forecast until early May, area fire officials are bracing for an extended period of high risk from brush fires.

To make matters worse for Lebanon, the town's forestry truck was taken out of service for reported mechanical problems, however, Lebanon Fire and Rescue Chief Dan Meehan said recently surrounding towns are aware of the situation and will respond with their forestry apparatus quickly in the event of a brush fire in Lebanon.

Further compounding the problem for all Northern Seacoast towns is the dearth of snow cover this winter which has left the brown landscape under the glare of an ever-strengthening spring sun.

The hope is, Rochester Deputy Fire Chief Tim Wilder said, that the area gets some needed rain so the underbrush and trees can "green up" thereby reducing the threat.

Meanwhile, Acton suffered a small brush fire over the weekend and Wolfeboro saw some 15 acres scorched on Sunday.

According to Accuweather, the only rain this week will be a couple of showers on both Tuesday and Friday. That's not enough, fire officials say.

The last four days have all been Class 4 days, the highest level of brush fire danger and it will likely continue that way until we have a really good soaking rain, Wilder said.