Neighbors with a garden hose helped stall the spread of a brush fire Thursday in Augusta that damaged a North Belfast Avenue home.
Augusta Fire Chief Roger Audette said nobody was hurt in the fire, which started around 1:45 p.m., while a relative of the homeowner was burning weeds with a torch.
“Neighbors kept the fire in check with a garden hose until the Fire Department arrived,” Audette said.
The National Weather Service has posted a red flag warning for the entire state. The Augusta area was in a Fire Class Day 4, or very high danger of accidental fires.
“Very dry conditions contributed to the rapid spread,” Audette said.
He said the fire was “a close call” but ultimately damaged only an attached porch at 2414 North Belfast Ave. He estimated the loss at $5,000.
There are no fire hydrants in the area, so a tank truck from Chelsea was called as precaution, Audette said.
“Fire units had to dig into the roofing and siding to put the fire out,” he said.
Crews were at the scene for about an hour during which traffic was disrupted. Audette said at least one school bus ran late because of the fire.
Craig Crosby — 621-5642
Twitter: @CraigCrosby4
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