Two days after the initial report, firefighters from Harpswell and beyond continue to contend with a woods fire in the Long Reach area of Great Island, as dry conditions and the remote location pose challenges.
A resident of the Doughty Point area reported the fire at about 12:30 p.m., Saturday, July 30, according to a statement from Harpswell Fire Administrator Arthur “Art” Howe III. The area is far from any road and easier to access by water, so firefighters requested boats to assist.
About a dozen Harpswell firefighters responded on Saturday, along with a state forest ranger and a helicopter from the Maine Forest Service. They fought the fire until the approach of dusk. Although the fire was not completely out, they left the area because of safety concerns about firefighting at night in rugged terrain, according to Howe.