ROCKLAND — It’s no surprise to Rockland Fire Department Asst. Chief Elwell that he and his crew were called to a bark mulch fire near Rite Aid last week. The area between Union and Main streets is a popular spot for cigarette butt tossers.

“Usually it’s right at the corner of Union Street, across from Rite Aid, because people stop at the corner, pitch out a butt, or they sit in the lot at Rite Aid,” he said.

The fire department has also extinguished burning mulch at Shaw’s.

“Basically, anybody who has bark mulch, if it’s dry enough, it’s going to happen sooner or later,” Elwell said. “Especially with discarded smoke material. Nine times out of ten, that’s how they start.”

Rockland did not issue any burn permits last week, based on the Fire Danger Level 4 in the Midcoast area, defined daily on the Maine Forest Service website. In the upper part of the state, according to Elwell, the level increased to 5. The state has seven different zones, of which Rockland is a part of Zone 1.

The Rockland Fire Department goes by what Maine.gov indicates.

“Not everybody does that,” said Elwell. “You’ll find towns that will issue a permit on a Class 3 day. We don’t like to, but you’ll also find towns that will let you burn on a Class 4 day.”

Because of today’s humidity (Monday, May 11) and overcast skies, the fire danger level is at a Class 2; therefore, permits are being issued again. Downeast is in Zone 2, and has a Level 1 standing.

Regardless of the warnings, caution should always be considered.

Elwell advises the public to also be more concerned about using grills on wooden porches, next to houses.

Elwell admits that fires can happen anywhere. As proof, he mentioned the blackened bricks on the rear exterior of the fire station where the fire department’s own barbeque caught fire. 

Rockland firefighters did not assist in the Searsmont fire, which burned at least 55 acres, and drew personnel from all of Knox County. Crews from Thomaston, Union, Waldoboro, Warren, Lincolnville, Waldo, Knox, and Brooks had to walk 1.5 miles through the forest to reach the burn site in Searsmont, according to Elwell. 

Related story: Three days of work finally quells Searsmont woods fire

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com