LINCOLNVILLE — It’s all wetland, but with a strong wind, it really doesn’t matter. 

Fire that scorched a field close to the road next to 359 Beach Road, in Lincolnville, Monday afternoon, May 13 then spread northward, burning approximately six acres before firefighters could declare the fire extinguished. 

After receiving the 911 report, Waldo County Communications Center sounded the alarm at 1:52 p.m., bringing Lincolnville and Northport firefighters to the roadside field, where they found a fire that had taken a strong hold. They drew their 2.5 inch hoses and dug in. Their first concern was the tree line at the edge of the property, according to Lincolnville Fire Chief Don Fullington, III. But, with that tormenting wind, they couldn’t contain the spread. 

An hour later, at 3 p.m., Fullington, himself, still had not been to the far burn site that was not visible from the road. His hour had been consumed by coordinating all efforts, calling for materials and mutual aid. His big break came from a routine phone call. Because the fire involved grass and wetlands, Fullington was required to notify the Maine Forestry Service. His notification was met with an immediate offer – air power. Described as “ready at a moments notice,” the forestry service quickly put its aviation division into the air from Augusta. Moments later they were unleashing bucket loads of water from above, making repeat trips to a nearby water source. 

Below the plane, chainsaws buzzed in the underbrush as firefighters in twos and threes used 1-gallon water tanks to smother the remains of smoking trees and earth, as their boots sank an inch or two into the soft, wet ground. 

At approximately 2:15 p.m., Fullington requested the services of Rockport FD for its UTV and manpower, and for North East Mobile Health Services as an immediate emergency medical response, should the need arise. The need did not arise for EMT services, but the firefighters served well, maneuvering their UTV to points where the Lincolnville UTV was not. 

Rockport cleared the scene around 5 p.m. North East was released at approximately 5:15 p.m.