OLD TOWN, Maine — Wildfire season in Maine, which begins in late March and lasts until late November, is now in full swing as temperatures continue to warm across the state, and fire safety officials are reminding Mainers of the dangers of wildfires and how they can be prevented.
Although nicer weather may prompt people to spend more time outdoors and even host bonfires, Old Town Fire Department Captain Matt Redding explained dry heat and windy air could be all the help a bonfire needs to spread and become a catastrophe.
"Weather is getting nice," Redding said. "This time of year is where you get the rapid fire spread."
There are more than 600 wildfires each year in Maine, according to Kent Nelson, Maine Forest Service's forest ranger specialist. Nelson said forest rangers have already responded to more than 100 wildfires this year alone.
With grass still dry and brittle from the winter months and leaves and debris covering the ground in forest areas full of trees, Nelson said the likelihood of fire danger is steadily high, with the potential to spread fast.
"They could be faster than you could run," he said, explaining that a single wildfire can burn more than 300 acres of land and damage anything in its path.
The Maine legislature passed a law last year requiring anyone who plans to have a bonfire or campfire that burns more than three feet high and three feet wide to request a same-day 24-hour burn permit. Redding reiterated that permits cannot be requested days before you plan to have a bonfire.
"If the fire gets away, you're responsible for the cost and also remembering that that permit is a privilege and not a right," Redding said.
The burn permits help local fire departments gain a better understanding of how many active open fire sites are in their domain and where those active burn sites will be.
Redding said the Maine Forest Service issues fire danger reports every day, detailing whether the likelihood of a wildfire spreading in a certain area is low, moderate, high, very high, or extreme.
If the fire danger report indicates that the risk of a wildfire is too high, people might be denied when they request a burn permit as a safety precaution.
Redding said people who obtain the burn permit are responsible for having tools and resources onsite to help them manage the fire if it gets out of control. He said people should also burn in clear areas and only burn clean, dry wood free of paint.
Nelson said when having a campfire, people should make sure the fire is completely out before they leave the site.
"Most of the fires in Maine and throughout the country are preventable," Nelson said. "Last year, we lost 17 structures throughout the state of Maine due to wildfires."
Loss is heartbreaking to see, he said, explaining that those 17 structures were homes that people can never get back.
Both Nelson and Redding said people should make arrangements to request a burn permit on the day that they plan to have a campfire, take necessary precautions when burning a bonfire, and they should also be familiar with the rules and requirements that come with obtaining a burn permit.
"Keeping in mind before you even ignite that pile, 'what would I do if this decides to get away from me?'", Redding said.