ROCKPORT — When Annie Appleton looked outside her South Street home early Thursday afternoon, brush fires that had been intentionally burning in the neighbor’s yard seemed to be moving a little too close for comfort. She was right: The burning of old branches and wood next door had jumped an old stone wall and was moving quickly 100 feet onto her yard, setting leaves, stumps and downed trees aflame.

The call came in at 12:14 p.m., and 15 Rockport firefighters quickly headed to 280 South Street, taking trucks from the West Rockport Fire Station, as well as the town’s central fire station next door to the town office.

With Indian tanks strapped to their backs, they moved through the trees, hosing down flames that was pushing outwards from all edges of the woods. In the end, approximately 2.5 acres burned, and a Maine State Forest Ranger was on his way to the property to assess the damage that resulted from an unpermitted burn.

The fires had been set in the woods at 280 South Street to clear underbrush; however, no permits had been obtained by the individuals who were burning there.

“They had been burning brush and piles and it got away from them,” said Deputy Fire Chief Todd Philbrook.

Rockport firefighters used approximately 3,000 gallons of water to extinguish the flames and smoldering woods.

To compound the issue, May 8 had been categorized Class 3 day by the Maine Forestry Service, meaning fire danger is high and: “All fine dead fuels ignite readily and fires start easily from most causes. Unattended brush and campfires are likely to escape. Fires spread rapidly and short-distance spotting is common. High-intensity burning may develop on slopes, in concentrations of fine fuel. Fires may become serious and their control difficult, unless they are hit hard and fast while small.”

Fire permits are not issued on Class 3 days.

Following the visit by a Maine forest ranger (rangers must investigate all wildfires in Maine), the individuals who had been burning were issued a summons for burning without a permit.

Burning without a permit is a Class E misdemeanor, with punishment of fines up to $500, six months in jail, and restitution for suppression costs up to $25,000 and liabilty for property damage.

Rockport firefighters cleared the scene at 2:30 p.m.

Editorial Director Lynda Clancy can be reached at lyndaclancy@penbaypilot.com; 207-706-6657.