Properties clean up for fire protection

Carrabassett Valley


Tom Heald of Augusta feeds small trees and brush through the Maine Forestry Service defensible space chipper. (Dee Menear photo)

Tom Heald of Augusta feeds small trees and brush through the Maine Forestry Service defensible space chipper. (Dee Menear photo)

CARRABASSETT VALLEY — Kent Wilson, Fire Prevention Specialist with the State of Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, was in Carrabassett Valley with Defensible Space Chipping Program equipment Aug. 17. He was there to work with the community to help with clearing and disposing brush near structures in an effort to reduce the risk of property loss in the event of a wildfire.

Funded by a federal grant, the Maine Forest Service program is dedicated to preventing wildfires and protecting homes from the same. Wilson explained a wildfire risk assessment was done in Carrabassett Valley about 10 years ago. “We determined that there is a high risk for wildfire here,” Wilson stated.

The program does not clear brush from lots for building purposes, rather it focuses on clearing brush to maintain what Wilson called a defensible space around the home. According to the Maine Forest Service, rural property is very vulnerable to wildfire and recommendations for reducing that risk is to maintain a 30-foot “defensible space” around a structure. This includes getting rid of debris, moving firewood away from the building and maintaining a green lawn.

“We could not do this without the support of the fire department and a community leader,” stated Wilson.

Community leader and resident Tom Andrle organized workers to help prepare for the arrival of the chipper. Forty-eight households spent the weekend leading up to the arrival of the equipment cutting and clearing brush, winter kill and small trees around their properties.

Fire Chief Courtney Knapp stated the town has worked closely with the Maine Warden Service over the last several years and has held a number of fire prevention events.

According to Wilson, the woodchips produced will be given back to the community. Andrle explained that some of the chips would be used on the properties they were cut on and some would be used on town owned property.

Visit the Maine Forest Service website at www.maine.gov for a comprehensive list of suggestions and tips for protecting your home from wildfires.


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