KNOX COUNTY — Temperatures topped 50 degrees in Knox County during the past three days, leading to a few even hotter spots. Fire trucks chased calls and firefighters chased runaway burns in multiple towns between Friday, April 21 and Sunday, April 23, with the majority of fires being on Sunday.

Friday, Rockport firefighters chased a permitted burn on a field on Blackberry Lane that got away, inching toward the woods line around 2 p.m.

Saturday, Rockland responded to the back side of the Transfer Station for a large pile of bark mulch that caught fire just after 1 p.m. As responders worked, Public Works employees assisted by spreading the mulch pile into thinner portions using heavy machinery. More than 2,200 gallons of water were used on the fire and to saturate surrounding debris piles to prevent any further issue.

Sunday, Camden brought their gear to the Turnpike Drive for a permitted brush and grass fire that took flight when the wind came up. Embers jumped into dry leaf debris in the woods in the direction of the State Park. Firefighters used Indian Tanks and rakes to expose and douse the sparks.

“Be careful when burning with an open permit,” said the Camden Fire Department Facebook page, after the incident. “Winds should be less than 10 mph while burning. Follow all the requirements of the open burn permit.”

Also on Sunday, Warren FD extinguished a grass fire on the Eastern Road after an approximate 12:05 p.m. call to 911. Later, Thomaston firefighters responded to West Meadow Road after 5:10 p.m. for a lawnmower fire that was within a couple feet from a shed. The shed survived unscathed. About 15 minutes after that call, Rockport firefighters headed to Scott’s Lane, off of Mt. Pleasant, for another field burn that went awry. 

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com