WARREN — Approximately 12 Rockport and six Warren firefighters spent 90 minutes a quarter-mile in the woods Tuesday afternoon, May 8, fighting a woods fire, under clouds of black flies.

The call for help came just before 11:30 a.m. to Knox County Communications Center in Rockland, which dispatched both Rockport and Warren fire departments to the Carroll Road in Warren.

Mutual aid agreements established years ago have it that West Rockport, being close to the Warren and Rockland town lines in that vicinity, automatically sends firefighters and equipment to the scenes in those two towns.

The fire was burning approximately one-quarter mile in the woods, accessible by a dirt road. Rockport sent is Willey Jeep, loaded with Indian tanks full of water, into the woods, followed by two other pickups belonging to Warren firefighters. 

Other firefighters hiked to the scene, confronting swarms of black flies.

They spent the next 90 minutes hosing hot spots and stomping the spreading fire, which burned almost an acre.

The landowners were at the scene, but no verified permit had been issued. The cause of the fire remains undetermined, although a forester with the Maine Forest Service arrived to investigate.

Rockport Fire Chief Jason Peasley, who was in command for most of the fire, advises the public to check the conditions with the state before burning, as well as the weather. Weather conditions today included sun and a periodic breeze.

The fire rating  today, May 8, was moderate, meaning: “Fires can start from most accidental causes, but with the exception of lightning fires in some areas, the number of starts is generally low. Fires in open-cured grassland will burn briskly and spread rapidly on windy days. Woods fires spread slowly to moderately fast. The average fire is of moderate intensity, although heavy concentrations of fuel, especially draped fuel, may burn hot. Short-distance spotting may occur, but is not persistent. Fires are not likely to become serious, and control is relatively easy.”

Peasley said that in Rockport, a permit is required for any type of outdoor burning not set in a designated fire pit. Additionally, a fully-charged water hose is also recommended to extend to the the fire site, and beyond.