Firefighters from six communities responded to two brush fires Tuesday afternoon in Randolph that broke out within a couple hundred yards of one another on the Old Narrow Gauge Rail Trail.

Randolph Fire Capt. Jim Kimball said one of the fires threatened a house on Windsor Street, but it was knocked down before any damage was done.

Those fires were two of several that burned across the region as the National Weather Service office issued a special weather statement Tuesday about elevated fire concerns. Warmer weather, low relative humidity, dry fuel and windy conditions contributed to the level of concern.

The state’s fire weather map showed moderate fire danger Tuesday across central Maine.

Maine forest rangers Tuesday responded to reports of the Randolph fire as well as to fires in Pittsfield and Greene and at least eight other communities.

Kimball said accessing the fires was made harder by having to respond on the rail trail, but firefighters used a portable pump and tankers to bring them under control in about an hour and a half.

He estimated that perhaps 1 acre burned in each of the fires.

In addition to Randolph, departments from Gardiner, West Gardiner, Pittston, Farmingdale and Chelsea responded.


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