GROTON, Vt. — Firefighters and other personnel from at least 31 departments and agencies in New Hampshire and Vermont streamed into Groton, Vt., Tuesday and spent hours stopping a stubborn forest fire before it could reach the nearby 26,000-acre Groton State Forest.

Feasting on bone-dry branches and woodland debris, the fire burned some 20 acres of private property about a mile-and-a-half off Route 302.

But a determined effort by firefighters working in shifts throughout the afternoon put the fire out by 7:30 p.m.

Apparently, the line of powerful and damaging thunderstorms that struck both sides of the Connecticut River in the Woodsville and Wells River, Vt., area on the Fourth of July is still wreaking havoc.

Fire officials believe a lightning strike from those storms a week ago hit flammable woodlands material in the privately-owned forest and set it smoldering until Tuesday's high winds caused the fire to erupt. It was spotted at noon, and the first units arrived soon afterward.

By late afternoon, the fire was still proving tough to battle, according to Groton Fire Chief Wayne Knott, who said no homes had been lost on what was once a 100-acre parcel that had been subdivided into about 10 privately-owned homes and camps, each with about 10 acres. The site is about eight miles west of downtown Woodsville.

“We've actively put out as much as we can. No buildings have been lost,” he said at 3 p.m.

“We're short manpower. The wind is what's our concern, right now. Where the fire is, is a combination of conifers and hardwoods. As far as the terrain, well, it's not like a walk through the woods,” said Knott, adding that there was a lot of woodland debris on the forest floor to impede foot travel, and the area is steep.

“It's had a chance to really dry over the past few days. We're trying to get around the back side of it.” the chief said.

Back at the Groton firehouse Tuesday night, town fire marshal Wade Johnson said that strategy had eventually been successful.

“We were able to surround it,” he said.

Both Johnson and Knott readily acknowledged it was touch and go for a time as the fire threatened the state forest which includes seven separate state parks, Owl's Head Mountain, and the 748-acre Peacham Bog Natural Area.

The forest is the largest contiguous property owned by the state of Vermont, and is extremely popular with outdoor enthusiasts for its wide variety of recreational uses and varied wildlife, while at the same time being so close to home for many Twin State residents.

By late-afternoon Tuesday, most traffic on Route 302 was firefighters making their way to the scene.

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Bob Hookway may be reached at bhookway@newstote.com.