Sparks from blown truck tire blamed in Lebanon brush fires

A Lebanon firefighter pours water on a hot spot at one of several brush fires that erupted on Thursday. (Lebanon Fire-EMS photo)

LEBANON - What is thought to have been sparks from a blown tire onto tinder dry brush made for a busy day for Lebanon fire crews and several of its mutual aid partners.

The multiple incidents began around 12:20 p.m. when Lebanon Fire-EMS was called to the scene of a brush fire in the area of Carl Broggi Highway and Long Swamp Road.

Just 12 minutes later at 12:31 p.m. a second tone was struck for a second brush fire also on Route 202, near the Sanford town line in East Lebanon, that stretched all the way back to Union School Road, according to a release from Lebanon Fire-EMS.

Firefighters noticed three separate fires in all, each about 50 apart.

Carl Broggi Highway was shut down to a single lane by the State Police, while fire crews worked on extinguishing the hot spots.

A nearby landowner with a piece of heavy construction equipment helped crews by back-dragging the side of the road.

North Berwick and Milton Fire were both called in with forestry units to help.

Witnesses had reported seeing a truck which had blown a tire while traveling in the direction of Sanford. Bits of tire were found along the roadway, and each fire happened to be located on the same side of the road, spanning a number of miles across town.

State Police were not immediately available today regarding the official cause of the blazes or any possible investigation.

Milton and North Berwick fire crews also responded to the scene.