The chance of devastating fires erupting here in dry coastal Maine is very real. It happened in 1947.

I see tinder everywhere in our Brunswick neighborhood. Despite calling itself a “Tree City, USA,” there is little management of leaves, brush or trees growing into street sightlines (do-it-yourself or not). Emails to city departments suggest each other or do-it-yourself. But folks don’t do it themselves.

There are some laws regulating brush piles and elevation clearances, but no enforcement and little maintenance by the city itself.

Maine wants to be a forest and we love our trees, but wooden houses, dry leaves and brush piles everywhere with below-normal rain and snow is a recipe for fire. Could we remove at least one ingredient?

Charles Annable
Brunswick

Related Headlines

Join the Conversation

Please sign into your Press Herald account to participate in conversations below. If you do not have an account, you can register or subscribe. Questions? Please see our FAQs.

filed under: