News and opinion about wildland fire
A sky lantern recently landed on a fire chief’s roof in York Beach, Maine. For years Chief David Bridges has been trying to educate the public about the lantern law and the fire dangers they pose. He believes it is a common misconception that Maine legalized the lanterns after legalizing fireworks in 2012. However they are banned in Maine and in 28 other states.
Train ignites multiple fires in five cities
A freight train spraying sparks along railroad tracks in southern Maine started multiple wildfires in five cities on Thursday. Firefighters responded from 20 communities to the five alarm incident to battle fires in South Portland, Scarborough, Old Orchard Beach, Saco, and Biddeford. The worst hit area was the Wagon Wheel RV Resort and Campground, at 3 Old Orchard Beach Road. Firefighters said 10 campers were destroyed and another six were damaged.
Veterans hired as firefighters in New Mexico
A state-funded program in New Mexico called “Returning Heroes” is putting 46 veterans to work as wildland firefighters. More information can be found at KOAT.
Rain on the fires in Oklahoma
About an inch of rain Wednesday night is helping firefighters in Oklahoma suppress and mop up the fires near Guthrie and Woodward.
Air tanker arrives early at Santa Maria
A DC-10 and other firefighting aircraft are stationed at the Santa Maria airport in California about a month earlier than normal. A spokesman for the U.S. Forest Service said the planes were brought to Santa Maria early because of recent red flag warnings for extreme fire danger in the area.
Prose in a Police Log
The Police Log published in the Georgetown Record in Massachusetts does not waste any words. An entry about a vegetation fire on April 25, for example:
9:48 p.m. Services were rendered for a brush fire on Nelson Street.
Other services “rendered” included “a utility emergency on East Main Street”, “a disabled motor vehicle on Andover Street”, and “an animal complaint on Central Street”.
It takes years of experience and training to write an official report in the style of a firefighter or police officer.
