One of Maine’s busiest tourist destinations has banned campfires for a couple of days as prolonged dry weather has increased the risk of fires throughout the state.
Bar Harbor gets millions of tourists who visit each summer, many of whom stay at campgrounds or visit area beaches such as at Hadley Point, where sunset campfires have become a popular activity.
But campers and beachgoers will have to do without fires until at least Sunday morning. Bar Harbor fire officials said the temporary ban goes into effect immediately, but that they will review weather conditions and forecasts on Sunday morning to see if the ban should be lifted. All outdoor fires, including campfires, are prohibited until at least then.
“The shutdown is caused by several factors, including a lack of recent rain, ongoing high fire danger, and forecasted increased winds with gusts reaching up to 30 mph,” Bar Harbor Fire Chief Matt Bartlett said, referring to conditions that were predicted for late Friday afternoon.
“On Sunday morning, we will review our decision using the State of Maine Forest fire danger report, the National Weather Service weather forecast, and other information available to the department to determine how long the suspension should remain in effect,” he said.
In Acadia National Park, which abuts Bar Harbor and comprises roughly 30,000 acres on Mount Desert Island, campfires for the time being still are allowed only at park campgrounds and designated picnic areas — with the exception of portions of the park on the island of Isle Au Haut off Stonington.
Open campfires, either for picnics or camping, at Duck Harbor Campground on Isle Au Haut are temporarily banned, as is smoking through all parts of Acadia on Isle Au Haut, according to park spokesperson John Kelly.
“We are continuing to monitor the situation and will respond accordingly to any changes in the fire conditions,” Kelly said.
The National Weather Service on Friday issued a special weather statement for counties on or near the coast, saying that a dry air mass, breezy conditions and relative dry vegetation will continue to make conditions even drier and will increase the potential for fire to spread.
The Maine Forest Service on Friday rated the threat of wildfires from roughly the Bangor area and the Blue Hill Peninsula west to the New Hampshire state line as “very high,” while the rest of Maine had a lower risk, especially to the far north.
Because of ongoing dry weather, Maine’s drought level along the coast, from eastern Lincoln County to western Washington County, is considered to be severe, according to U.S. Drought Monitor. Conditions elsewhere in Maine are considered less severe, ranging from moderate near the coast to no drought in far northern Maine.
