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Fire Danger
Lasell Island Fire
April 14, 2012
Author : MaineIsland Living
Category: Environment
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Lasell Island and its little sister, Lime Island, viewed from the west side looking toward North Haven in the distance. --Photo by Kate Hotchkiss Taylor
Evening, April 14, 2012 – Islesboro’s Lasell Island, 2.5 miles southwest of the main island of Islesboro continues to burn into the night sending a smoke plume across Penobscot Bay borne on a 12 knot WSW breeze. According to North Haven’s Fire Chief Forrest Sprague, today is a Class IV “red flag” day, the second highest danger level designated by the Maine Forest Service. The Maine Forest Service describes the fire danger level of a Class IV day as “Very High. Fires start easily from all causes, and immediately after ignition, spread rapidly and increase quickly in intensity. Spot fires are a constant danger. Fires burning in light fuels may quickly develop high-intensity characteristics; such as, long-distance spotting and fire whirlwinds, when they burn into heavier fuels. Direct attack at the head of such fires is rarely possible after they have been burning more than a few minutes.”
Lasell Island is four miles East of Camden Harbor and four miles west of Pulpit Harbor, North Haven. The Knox County dispatcher confirmed the fire is on Lasell Island, and management has been turned over to the Maine Forest Service.

A plume of smoke streams across Penobscot Bay from fire on Lasell Island at sun set. Photo by Kate Hotchkiss Taylor

Lasell Island is 2.5 nautical miles southwest of Islesboro and half way between Camden Harbor and North Haven.

As dusk deepens, the flames on Lasell Island become visible from North Haven, four miles to the west. Photo by Kate Hotchkiss Taylor
Sunday Morning, April 15, 2012:

A Maine Forest Service helicopter dumps water on the Lasell Island fire. It is reported there are at least two houses on the island. As of Sunday morning, April 15, 2012 it is unknown if they were involved. --Photo by Kate Hotchkiss Taylor
Sunday Afternoon, April 15, 2012:

A Maine Forest Service helicopter maneuvers to pick up water from a small pond on Lasell Island to suppress the island wild fire. --Photo by Kate Hotchkiss Taylor

Hovering over the man-made pond the Maine Forest Service picks up water to dump on the fire. --Photo by Kate Hotchkiss Taylor

Suppression continues.

The last of the load is dropped before repeating the process. This helicopter worked all day from dawn until dusk.
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