A grass fire that extended to more than an acre along a power line corridor in Rindge is believed to have sparked from a discarded cigarette.
Rindge Fire Chief Rick Donovan said at about 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, a fire tower in Massachusetts reported a column of smoke originating in Rindge. Fire crews were initially dispatched to the East Monomonac Road area to search for signs of a brush fire, but while en route, a citizen reported the actual location, in the corridor between Perry Road and Route 119.
The power line corridor between the two roads is about a half-mile long, and the fire was roughly halfway in, Donovan said. Crews were able to access the corridor and transport tanker trucks directly to the fire site through the Route 119 entrance.
Donovan said a person has come forward who admitted to being in the corridor shortly before the start of the fire, who had been smoking and discarded a cigarette believed to be the cause of the fire. Donovan said the district forest ranger would pursue any possible further action, and the person may also be liable for the cost of fighting the fire, which is upwards of $1,000.
Donovan said this is the third fire in Rindge in the past two weeks believed to be caused by an improperly disposed-of cigarette – the others being behind Hidden Hills on Lisa Drive and another off the rail trail on Route 202. The fire danger last week was considered high, with no burn permits issued due to dry conditions and high winds. The danger had dropped to moderate over the weekend, but Donovan said residents should still take care.
“Be extra careful and pay attention to what you’re doing,” Donovan said. “It’s very dry and the wind’s not helping either, and contributes to the spread.”
The fire Saturday was extinguished in about two hours, was mainly confined to the grassy area under the power lines and was caught just as it was starting to enter the wooded area, Donovan said.
Crews from Ashby, Winchendon, New Ipswich and Jaffrey assisted with the fire. There were no injuries.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.