Update: Milton firefighters returning to station after battling stubborn woods fire near downtown

Smoke rises in the woods above downtown Milton today prompting a quick response from firefighters contending with their second blaze in two days in the same vicinity. (Marilyn Harvey photo)

MILTON - For the second time in two days Milton Fire crews had to battle a fire deep in the woods not far from downtown.

Today's fire appeared to be at least a hundred yards into the woods behind the former Ding-a-Ling restaurant.

The fire was called in by Erline Perkins, co-owner of a thrift shop at the corner of Garage Way and White Mountain Highway.

Perkins said she started smelling smoke a little after noon and looked out to see a plume rising up on the mountain just south of the downtown.

Milton Fire and Rescue crews responded quickly along with a Farmington fire truck.

A Milton Forestry unit parked up astride the former breakfast hot spot and crews stretched lines up the hill into thick woods.

By 1:30 p.m. crews seemed to be getting the blaze under control as one firefighter could be seen clambering up the hill with a water bucket to help keep firefighters up on the hill battling the blaze hydrated in today's oppressive heat and humidity.

By 3:20 p.m. the fire was reported mostly out and trucks began returning to the station.

For much of the late morning and afternoon a Milton officer positioned at the entrance to Garage Way directed traffic though a single lane of Route 125 that remained open in the downtown.

Perkins said before the officer got there she directed traffic for a while before someone else stood in prior to police arriving.

She said Thursday's fire wasn't as far up the hill and occurred later in the day. Many in and around the store said they believed the cause of the fire was neighborhood teens who go up the hill to smoke cigarettes.

Fire crews fighting the fire were unavailable for comment.