A fast-moving brush fire burned approximately 1.5 acres in Antrim on Monday, March 30, prompting a multi-department response.
Antrim Fire and Rescue was dispatched at 1:23 p.m. to a reported brush fire behind a barn at 1257 Concord St. Upon arrival, firefighters found the blaze had grown to nearly an acre and was being pushed by wind across a large field.
The incident was quickly upgraded to a first-alarm brush fire, bringing in mutual aid from Bennington, Hillsborough, and Deering.
The fire was quickly suppressed with a direct attack by responding crews.
Firefighters then concentrated on the fire that had spread into the woods but stopped by wetlands, which created a natural fire break.
“Crews had the fire extinguished and mopped up in just over an hour. Even though we received a fair amount of snow this winter, it has melted off very quickly and things have dried out, so light flashy fuels will ignite easily and spread fast,” stated Antrim Fire Chief Marshall Gale.
Gale says the fire was most likely caused by an unpermitted fire.
“I went back with the State Forest Ranger to investigate the next day, and we’re pretty confident this fire was kindled from illegal burning that had re-kindled after the fire was not been extinguished properly,” Gale stated Tuesday.
