BUXTON (WGME) — The Maine Forest Service is dealing with an unprecedented number of wildfires, and the wildfire season is just getting started.
State rangers are reporting over 850 acres have been burned from more than 700 fires since the season began. The last record fire season was in 2016 with 749 fires. There have been 721 fires already, due to dry conditions.
As a result, the Maine Forest Servicer is banning all online burning permits. Yarmouth’s Fire Chief, Michael Robitalle, is following the forest service’s lead and is no longer issuing any kind of burning permit.
“You’re going to find out that most of the fire chiefs in the state of Maine are going to follow the Department of Conservation and Maine Forest Rangers’ recommendations and not allow any burning whatsoever,” Yarmouth Fire Chief Michael Robitaille said.
If these environmental conditions don’t improve enough in the coming weeks, there may be a ban on fireworks issued state-wide, in anticipation of July 4th celebrations.
