FARMINGTON — About 30 firefighters spent about three hours battling a two-alarm brush fire behind the former Collins & Aikman facility along Route 11 Thursday.

After receiving a report of smoke, firefighters responded to a wooded area along Route 11 and began looking for the fire, according to Fire Chief Richard Fowler.

“We started looking for it around 2 p.m.,” Fowler said. “It took us about 45 minutes to locate it.”

Even though there is a fire tower on nearby Blue Job Mountain in Strafford, Fowler said the process was challenging because it is difficult to pinpoint the location of a fire in the woods.

He said the fire burned a couple of acres and could be accessed about 1,000 feet from the main entrance of the former automotive parts plant and via Paulson Road, both of which are west of Route 11.

Local crews were aided by firefighters from Alton, Middleton, Milton, New Durham, Rochester and Wakefield. State forest rangers and paramedics from Frisbie Memorial Hospital also responded to the scene while Gilmanton firefighters provided station coverage in Farmington.

“Everyone did a fantastic job. We got it knocked down pretty quick once we found it,” Fowler said, adding firefighters reached the site using forestry trucks, four-wheel drive vehicles and via foot.

Fowler said firefighters used foam and rakes to form a perimeter around the fire, which was challenging due to the size and the fact the fire burned the ground up to six inches deep in some areas.

“It’s in a real rough area with rough terrain,” Fowler said, adding there was a great deal of brush, downed trees and branches and other slash that fueled the fire.

He said it’s too early to tell what may have caused the fire. On the good side, he added the fire only burned trees and brush as there were no structures or objects in the area.

“We’ll probably start investigating tomorrow,” Fowler said, adding firefighters plan to return to the scene early this morning.

“There’s going to be a hot spot there,” Fowler said, adding this is expected when conditions are so dry, as they were Thursday.

Fowler said the fire danger level is high — Class 3 on a scale of 5 — for most of the state.

Alton and Wakefield firefighters were released around 6 p.m., and all crews departed the scene by 6:30 p.m.

As a result of the high temperature and humidity, Fowler said it was essential for firefighters to rotate between fighting the fire and to a designated recovery site, manned by Frisbie paramedics and located around New Durham’s rehab vehicle.

New Durham Fire Chief Peter Varney said the department designed the vehicle using an old rescue vehicle. He added it provides shade, air conditioning, lights, a tent, some medical equipment and enough snacks and water for about 300 firefighters.

“Rehab is getting to be a big thing,” Varney said, adding on average about 100 firefighters die nationwide after they leave a scene.

As a result, Varney said, many departments have focused on recovery and ensuring firefighters are rested, hydrated and safe after responding to an incident.

- - - - - - - -

John Quinn may be reached at jquinn@newstote.com.