HOPE — It’s getting to be that time of year when property owners start thinking about cleaning up their yards, which often means burning brush piles and thatch, and for blueberry growers - acres of rocky and hilly barrens. Most times, it all works out fine, but once in a while, a fluke, such as an extra-dry patch or a momentary distraction can lead to an escaped fire. Quick response by firefighters in Hope knocked down just such a fire at a property on Sexton Avenue Sunday afternoon, but not before it burned about 4 acres of open field and some scrub in the woods.

Hope Fire Department was called out to 42 Sexton Ave., which is located just north of the intersection of Hatchet Mountain and Alford Lake roads, around 3:31 p.m. according to Chief Clarence Keller. He said it was a permitted burn of brush, which escaped into a field, then into the woods. He said the property owner had done everything right, and had enough help, but that an ember possibly moved higher than they were watching or the fire just started moving quicker than they could keep control of it.

"It was burning uphill, away from the house, and crawling along pretty fast and made it into the woods," said Keller. "Once we got resources there, and after the fire got into the woods where it was wetter, it started to slow a bit and we were able to get some around it and close it off."

Prior to that, Keller said he realized he would need more help and asked Knox Regional Communication Center to call for mutual aid, requesting firefighters from Union and Rockport. He also eventually requested help from Lincolnville, which had a forestry Polaris six-wheel ATV mounted with a half-dozen portable water tanks, called Indian tanks. They also brought another truck that had more portable tanks, which enable firefighters to load up and walk into the woods on foot with the water on their backs.

All told, Keller said Hope had an average turnout of a dozen people. Rockport had 15 and Lincolnville had 10.

"It was a good effort by everybody who came out and I'm thankful we aren't all up there still tonight," said Keller.

Keller said that even though there wasn't any wind to speak of, to fan or push the fire, there was a lot of dry surface grass, making it easy for the fire to move across the dry top stuff and keep moving uphill.

He said that there were other homes nearby, but none of them were ever in danger of exposure to the fire. That’s also true of the home on the property.

Keller said he notified Maine Forestry, and District Ranger Art Lavoie performed a helicopter flyover and took some photos, but did not end up putting any water on the fire from the air as it had been put out already by the ground crews.

"I did have some communication with him when he came back and over, and he said it looked good and went on his way," said Keller.

Keller said at dusk Sunday, he went back to the property, which is owned by John Morrison, also the burn permit holder, and did a perimeter walk.

"Everything looked good," said Keller.

Reach Editorial Director Holly S. Edwards at hollyedwards@penbaypilot.com and 207-706-6655