Here’s the latest, as of 10 a.m. Thursday:
- New mapping from the White Mountain National Forest puts the size of the burn zone at 856 acres
- The Wild River Fire is continuing to burn about 7 miles southeast of Gorham, near the New Hampshire-Maine border. The terrain is rugged and steep, with no residential properties immediately threatened.
- While the cause remains under investigation, authorities believe the fire was likely sparked by human activity
- On Thursday at 6 p.m., there will be a public information session at Shelburne Town Hall. There is also a remote viewing option.
- Around 90 federal firefighters are assigned to the blaze, and three helicopters are in use to assist with suppression.
A historically large wildfire now estimated at 856 acres continues to burn in the White Mountain National Forest near Gorham, New Hampshire.
While the fire continues to be fueled by drought and dry conditions on the ground, a Forest Service spokesperson said there is “steady progress on suppression efforts” as of Thursday morning. While the source of the blaze is still under investigation, authorities believe it was likely caused by human activity.
A forest closure is now in effect for the entirety of Shelburne Trail and sections of High Water Trail and other trails, as well as the entirety of Wild River Road.
Forest Service spokesperson Jessie Dubuque said the Wild River Fire was spotted Sunday and spread quickly through steep and rugged terrain.
“For a fire of this size on the White Mountain National Forest, it’s very uncommon. It is the largest since the forest was incorporated,” Dubuque said in an interview.
The Forest Service said at least 89 forest service personnel, three helicopters and a drone are currently at work suppressing the blaze, which is about 11% contained.
The fire is about a mile into the national forest just west of the Maine-New Hampshire border and south of U.S. Route 2.
Firefighters have been challenged by local conditions including a forest service road heavily damaged three years ago that impeded access to the area.
“It’s inaccessible in a lot of ways. Firefighters are having to cross the Wild River on foot to access the fire, so that speaks to its remote nature,” Dubuque said.
Drought conditions in the area have left dried leaf litter, deadfall wood and combustible spruce and fir to fuel the fire, Dubuque added.
The Forest Service is investigating what started the fire but it is currently believed to be human-caused, Dubuque said. The forest service said there is no significant threat to private property or physical safety.
“As of right now, we don’t smell any smoke this morning,” Gorham Fire Chief Philip Cloutier said early Wednesday. “Yesterday, it was hazy in Gorham and you could smell the wildfire.”
Cloutier said there are no known residential properties in the area.
The Forest Service instructs drivers who encounter smoke to slow down and turn on their headlights, and asks people to avoid flying personal drones near the fire.
Cloutier said while small blazes occasionally break out in the White Mountains, a wildfire of this size is rare.
“That’s very uncommon in our area,” he said. “The largest wildfire that we can remember was just under 100 acres, and that was over 20 years ago.”
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