Any place in ME to have a fire on the beach? (pay, top)

[Maine Writer]

Midol! Get your free Midol!

[mollysmiles]

LOL no kidding huh!

[maureengld]

Originally Posted by Acadianlion

You're welcome. There are many people from other, more populous states who think that Maine is a wild open wilderness that is a sort of free range for them to roam on. Many well meaning folks from Massachusetts have been deeply involved in a campaign to "save" the north woods of Maine. Most don't have a lot of knowledge about nor have really been in Maine.

It appeared from the initial post that you wanted to wander into a nice, scenic place, pitch a tent, make a fire and enjoy the night sounds.

Maine is a place of privately owned property, environmental and other laws, and in what you referred to as "southern Maine", is the highest density of population in the state and by far, the most restricted use of any and all land waterfront or not.

Maine has a thriving campground industry, and you should search for a suitable one that will provide tent sites for vacationers from away.

I hope you enjoy your visit.

Most campgrounds in Maine are not thriving and some of us in the hospitality industry are most welcoming to tourists of any sort.

No permit is needed when using a fire for cooking anywhere in the state and most land owners would welcome campers with permission and set rules to follow. The state parks offer private secluded sites and are wonderful!

[island mermaid]

Originally Posted by maureengld

Most campgrounds in Maine are not thriving and some of us in the hospitality industry are most welcoming to tourists of any sort.

No permit is needed when using a fire for cooking anywhere in the state and most land owners would welcome campers with permission and set rules to follow. The state parks offer private secluded sites and are wonderful!

Most land owners would welcome strangers/ campers onto their property to camp and build fires?????

Which part of Maine are you from?

That's ridiculous....

[mollysmiles]

Mermaid I agree!! I don't know anyone around here who would allow someone they don't know to camp on their land! Holy cow.... can you say "liability"?

[dmyankee]

Originally Posted by Fort Lauderdale mermaid

Most land owners would welcome strangers/ campers onto their property to camp and build fires?????

Which part of Maine are you from?

That's ridiculous....

About 50% of Maine is owned by private landowners that will allow strangers to camp on their land. Some will charge a nominal fee and many will not.

There are state authorized fire sites all over the place (weather dependent,) and a simple fire permit from the Forestry will allow you to fire up most anywhere outside of a no kindling zone.

[Northern Maine Land Man]

A seasonal fire permit can be obtained by most any responsible person from a forest ranger after a brief conversation establishing the person's competency. Such permits are not a right and not everybody can obtain one. Common sense prevails.

Seasonal permits are suspended during times of high and extreme forest fire danger. In rare occasions the woods are simply closed to all but landowners. I told a true story a few months back about a family from out of state who camped in a field beside a large stream for a week. They never asked permission. When they departed they left a big pile of trash and some prescriptions and magazines had their names on them. The Mainer returned the favor and set up a tent on their front lawn in Connecticut. The homeowner went nuts. He called the cops. The cops arrived along with a TV crew and newspaper reporters. It went down hill for the litter bug from there.

Most Northern Mainers who have large parcels of land will let people camp on their land with permission. As to liability; Maine law says if you enter onto the land of another for recreational purposes you do so at your own risk. If that were not true we would not have over 12,000 miles of snowmobile trail on private land in Maine.

[mollysmiles]

I wouldn't have a problem with snowmobiles passing through, and a club grooming the trails, and a Maine Warden over-seeing (to the best of their ability) the activity. To me however, a person I don't know camping on my land, with a fire, is an entirely different matter.

[7th generation]

I am the town fire warden in my little village and permits are required for every burn, regardless of the size. It would be prudent to ask for a permit while enjoying hot dogs even though outside fires for cooking do not technically need them. It's kind of "the right thing to do." We contract with the next town for fire protection and if Mr. and Mrs. Jones decide to crank up a fire so little Johnny can make Smores and the FD gets called because neighbor X sees the smoke and doesn't know little Johnny is filling his belly with the delectable treats, either the town will be charged $1,000 for the call, or little Johnny's parents will be charged. A little consideration goes a long way.

[RMoore007]

Originally Posted by Northern Maine Land Man

Most Northern Mainers who have large parcels of land will let people camp on their land with permission. As to liability; Maine law says if you enter onto the land of another for recreational purposes you do so at your own risk. If that were not true we would not have over 12,000 miles of snowmobile trail on private land in Maine.

We let ATV/Snowmobilers use our 20 acre gravel/sand pit sometimes which is just off the ITS trail system. It is a little hidden but easy to come across. They can't really hurt it too much as it's just sand. We keep a couple no tresspassing signs around it but people will usually disregard them. Here is the law that NMLM was referring to. Thankfully we have this law. Maine’s Recreational Use Statute « Downeast Law