By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

NAPLES — A wildfire burnt between 15 and 20 acres in Jugtown over the course of several days in early July, requiring the assistance of firefighters from as many 12 mutual aid departments, and using at least 110,000 gallons of water.

Tankers filled up at the Naples Fire Station, at the hydrant by Moose Landing Marina and at a dry hydrant on Leach Hill Road, according to Naples Fire Chief Justin Cox.

On July 3, crews first responded to the forest fire in JugTown. In the following days, the fire rekindled twice: on July 4 and 5. 

The incident caused officials to explore ways to better fight forest fires, and to figure out why the Maine Forestry Service turned down the fire chief’s request for a helicopter water drop. 

One elected official asked: Are there ways to get water from nearby sources instead of driving tankers all the way back to Naples?

On Monday, Chief Cox reported to the Naples board of Selectmen about the wildfire that was discovered in Jugtown on July 3. 

“It was reported as 25 acres that burned, but I would guess it was in-between 15 and 20 acres,” Cox said. 

“After being notified of a possible fire early that morning [July 3], our first due units quickly discovered that the fire was beyond the size and scope of one or two departments, and we asked for additional assistance,” he said. 

“While I am on record I would like to thank the towns that helped us Sunday for the forest fire. I would like to read them out,” Cox said. “Naples, obviously our crew, Casco, Harrison, Bridgton, Raymond, Otisfield, Brownfield, Denmark, Sweden Poland, Oxford, Mechanic Falls, Gray, Paris and Norway.”

United Ambulance and other towns farther north covered the stations that were left unmanned, he said. 

“P&K Sand and Gravel and Chaplain Logging helped supply heavy equipment,” he said. “They were not asked. They came to me and asked, which was awesome.”

ASSISTANCE FROM THE AIR?  

Naples Town Manager John Hawley reported to selectmen that after the forest fire in Jugtown, he tried to get clarification on why a helicopter from Maine Forestry Service wasn’t used to assist with putting out the fire. 

Recently, Hawley met with Lt. George Harris, of the Maine Forestry Service.

“I questioned why the fire chief’s request for a helicopter water drop was denied,” Hawley said.

“According to Lt. Harris, several factors have to be considered before sending a helicopter. The one-scene forest ranger evaluates the size, conditions, and type of fire and relays that information to the on-duty supervisor and the helicopter pilot. The three of them determinehow effective the air drops will be. Because our fire was mostly ground and underground fires, water drops from the air would have been ineffective for this type of fire,” Hawley said. “He said digging and concentrated water streams were needed for this particular fire.”

“He also said hindsight being 20/20, it would have made sense to bring the helicopterin to take the chief up to look and survey his fire ground, but wasn’t sure why that did not happen,” Hawley said.  

“When asked about the cost, he said cost is not a consideration. When evaluating fire grounds, all costs are covered in full by the state, and there are always funds available for this activity,” he said. “Towns do not have to pay anything for the service.”

“Towns are never expected to pay for any of that because it could break a small municipality,” Hawley said.  

BUSY MONTH FOR FIRE DEPARTMENTS

The Naples Fire and Rescue Department has been straight out since July 1, Chief Cox said. 

“We were fairly busy, starting July 1. I wrote down what we responded to just to give you an idea of what happened in just five days. Friday, July 1, two medicals and a structure fire in Casco. Saturday, July 2, a vehicle fire, a service call and two medicals. Sunday, July 3, an outside fire, which was the forest fire in Jugtown and two medicals. We returned to the fire scene to mop up hot spots. Monday, July 4, we responded to a service call, a brush fire, a medical, a structure fire in Bridgton, and a rekindle out in Jugtown. Tuesday, July 5, there were two alarms, another rekindle in Jugtown and a medical,” he said.  

Later, the selectmen discussed tankers, bringing up repairs on one that happened a few years ago.

“Speaking of tankers, it my understanding that the tankers all filled up at Moose Landing fire hydrant. My understanding is there were no pressure issues at Moose Landing,” Grattelo said.

Cox said they avoided water pressure issues by filling up the tankers elsewhere the next time.

“After they filled, I assumed we couldn’t do any more.  That is why we changed locations,” he said.

“Edes Falls river [Crooked River] is right there,” Grattelo said. “Is there something we need to buy, some apparatus, something we don’t have in our arsenal?”

Cox answered, “You need a good flowing river, and a good accesspoint. Everywhere along there is a 20- to 30-feet pull.”

“So, there is nothing we could buy,” Grattelo asked. 

“If you bought a pumping station, and put it in the river I guess,” Cox answered. 

Grattelo continued.

“I am asking questions because I don’t know,” he said. “Is there some type of pump that we would buy if we ever had a fire in that area instead of tanks having to drive all the way back to Naples to fill up?”

Cox said, “If the river was high enough, we would have pulled water from that. Obviously, coming back to the lake on the Fourth of July weekend wasn’t a point. We ended up using a dry hydrant on Leach Hill.”