BRUNSWICK

A brush fire burned approximately 3 acres of grass and trees in the area of 188 Maquoit Road Monday afternoon.

The fire was reported at 2 p.m.

David Stevens Jr. was mowing in a small field adjacent to his home at 188 Maquoit Road when he noticed there was a fire where he’d made a pass with the riding lawnmower. He was driving a two-year-old Toro Titon zero turn machine in good working order.

He tried to stomp out with his feet the circle of flames that has formed, but the fire grew and was blowing in every direction. Due to the strong wind, fire soon spread to the trees, moving towards a neighbor’s home.

His wife, Cindy, called 911 twice. She called the second time to tell communicaiton officers the fire had already spread into the trees.

The wind-driven fire was impinging on the house next door at 206 Maquoit Street, Brunswick Fire Captain Matt Barnes said. The vinyl siding on the back of the house melted and there was some smoke inside the house.

He estimaded firefighters had the fire under control within 15 minutes. Once they got water on the fire, the biggest challenge was the fire that had spread into a patch of pine trees which began to burn. There were flames as high as 40 feet in the air. 

Topsham and Freeport fire departments sent brush trucks and manpower. He also called Topsham tanker in case another wter supply was needed, but fortunately firefighters had a hydrant on scene to draw water from.

Crews were digging through debris and cutting down some of the trees that had fire in them to make sure the fire was completely out. This helps insure the fire doesn’t reignite, which is a danger given the dry conditions. This early in the season, the fire was all above ground.

“As soon as the guys got on scene with the water, they did a great job as far as how fast they put the fire out,” Barnes said. When firefighters initially arrived, they couldn’t see across the street approaching the scene. 

When he arrived, Barnes saw the homeowner with a garden hose trying to protect what property he could. Other neighbors came with buckets and did what they could as well. 

The Maine Forest Service predicts fire danger within seven zones in Maine, and the Midcoast has been in high fire danger the last three days. Several brush fires were reported over the weekend. High fire danger means “all fine dead fuels ignite readily and fires start easily from most causes.”

When conditions are like this, unattended brush and campfires are likely to escape and fires spread rapidly.

Barnes said Stevens didn’t know how quickly the fire would spread and did exactly the right thing.

“He ran right in and called 911 before he got a hose or anything, and that’s so important. With these spring winds, it’s just driving it,” Barnes said. “As soon as you think there’s a fire, run and call 911 and let us take care of it.”

The lawnmower was destroyed.

dmoore@timesrecord.com

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