Fires in Maine??? (excise tax, legal, move)

[maja]

Originally Posted by forest beekeeper

In January 2004 downtown Bangor saw the burning of the Masonic Lodge there.

http://cms.firehouse.com/web/online/Photo-Stories/Historic-Masonic-Hall-Building-in-Maine-Lost/45$24704



Fighting that fire:
http://cms.firehouse.com/content/art...35881750_1.jpg



Flames as seen looking in through a window while the building is encased in ice:
http://cms.firehouse.com/content/art...35583380_3.jpg



Water mist from the firehose has frozen on a traffic light and it's weight is bending the lampost:
http://cms.firehouse.com/content/art...36043164_7.jpg

WOW! Incredible photos! I've never seen anything like it. Reminds me of something out of Dr. Zhivago! Looks, sadly like a beautiful old building was lost but luckily no lives. Thanks for posting.

[forest beekeeper]

Originally Posted by maja

WOW! Incredible photos! I've never seen anything like it. Reminds me of something out of Dr. Zhivago! Looks, sadly like a beautiful old building was lost but luckily no lives. Thanks for posting.

A lot of old and un-replaceable stuff was lost too.

[fxtrader]

Bangor also had the great fire of 1911.
Bangor, ME Fire, Apr 1911
Soldier guarding household effects, Bangor fire (LOC) on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Clearing away debris, Bangor fire (LOC) on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
General view of fire, Bangor, Me. (LOC) on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

[Northern Maine Land Man]

Maine seldom has large forest fires. There is one fundamental reason. About 95% of Maine is private land. The federal government is a very poor steward of the land we all own. Nearly all the big fires out west are on government land. Adjacent private timberlands do not burn. Private landowners care about their lands. It's the people who live near government land that are most at risk. They are not even allowed to trim brush back near their homes because it might frighten some rat that is "of concern" to the environmental industry.

Some federal forest service employees care about the public's property. I have a relative who works for the Department of Interior. They are so bound up in red tape and controlled by the extreme environmental groups that we lose multiple millions of dollars worth of our natural resources every year because of the threats of lawsuits by the "no human use" gang.

[Fern435]

Originally Posted by Northern Maine Land Man

Maine seldom has large forest fires. There is one fundamental reason. About 95% of Maine is private land. The federal government is a very poor steward of the land we all own. Nearly all the big fires out west are on government land. Adjacent private timberlands do not burn. Private landowners care about their lands. It's the people who live near government land that are most at risk. They are not even allowed to trim brush back near their homes because it might frighten some rat that is "of concern" to the environmental industry.

Some federal forest service employees care about the public's property. I have a relative who works for the Department of Interior. They are so bound up in red tape and controlled by the extreme environmental groups that we lose multiple millions of dollars worth of our natural resources every year because of the threats of lawsuits by the "no human use" gang.

Very true. During a similar southern California fire a few years ago, the only house that survived in one neighborhood was the one where the homeowner cleared (illegally) the chaparral behind his house.

The issues regarding land use/protection are complex. Reading posts here on the Maine forum helps me learn more. Thank you (especially NMLM) for the knowledgeable and practical information.

[maja]

Thanks everyone for all the helpful, informative, interesting & even humorous responses. Think I've got the picture now. Mostly what I anticipated and continues to reinforce the desire to make our move to Maine when and if...

[Zymer]

Originally Posted by maja

I'm tired of the fires and threat of fires out here in California. Most of my precious, irreplaceable stuff is now hauled off to storeage where it's gonna stay until our move. Not gonna pack it up "just in case" one more time. Anyhow, how is Maine for fires. I know its not as bad as California, but do you ever get fires. I know there's lots of timber! Does it ever get dry and hot enough to burn? Homes ever threatened? Evacuations? Thanks for any responses.

Not to worry...Maine Fire Departments have historically had an excellent reputation for successfully saving nearly every foundation.

[chaosX5]

Originally Posted by Zymer

Not to worry...Maine Fire Departments have historically had an excellent reputation for successfully saving nearly every foundation.

Zymer, This is too funny!!!

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by Zymer

Not to worry...Maine Fire Departments have historically had an excellent reputation for successfully saving nearly every foundation.

Cellar savers!

[BrokenTap]

Originally Posted by Zymer

Not to worry...Maine Fire Departments have historically had an excellent reputation for successfully saving nearly every foundation.

That is so inconsiderate. They have also saved nearly every chimney. Jeesh...give them the credit they deserve huh?

(Just kidding you, but it should be noted the FFers in most small Maine towns are volunteers. I was a Volunteer FF in town for 10 years and getting up some nights when it was -32º to fight a house fire was not fun, or tending to accidents on icy roads, or some of the other things we did. Incidentally my brother is a professional fire fighter at the Bangor Fire Dept.)