Public Safety

April 04. 2012 11:18AM

Biggest fire of season burning in Hill

By PAULA TRACY
New Hampshire Union Leader

Matt Apgar, left, forest ranger for the N.H. Division of Forests and Lands, speaks with Doug Miner, district ranger for the Hill area, and Jim Haynes of Lakes Region Mutual Fire about a plan to attack a quickly growing wildfire Wednesday off Currier Road in Hill. (PAULA TRACY)

Wearing fire-retardant suits, firefighters from throughout central New Hampshire were on Currier Road in Hill about noon Wednesday awaiting their instructions for fighting the brush fire in the rugged, mountainous area near March Hill, not far from the Andover town line. (PAULA TRACY)

Linked articles:
Firefighters douse forest land brush fire

HILL - About 100 firefighters from central New Hampshire have converged on an area east of March Hill, not far from Poverty Pond, to fight a 64-acre brush fire they say is spreading quickly.

The fire went to four alarms shortly before 2 this afternoon.

Ron Klemarczyk, a special deputy warden for the state Division of Forests and Land, said, "This is the biggest fire of the season. Today is a Red Flag Day," which refers to a rating for conditions which allow wildfires to burn uncontrollably. This is a third-alarm fire, he said.

A helicopter is flying overhead assessing the size and direction of the fire. A staging area has been set up off Currier Road on Tioga Road.

Crews are dressed in yellow fire-retardant suits and are carrying shovels. There's one tanker truck on the scene as of noon.

More details to follow.