Illegal Campfires - A Concern in the Maine Woods

Copyright 2024 by Lori-Ann Willey 

IT IS CAMPFIRE SEASON and though there are people who scrunch their noses at the 2023 campfire code, I do not. Lemme tell you why.  There are legal campfires and there are illegal campfires. There are careful people, and then there are careless people. 

Our camp sits on a dead-end private camp road with only one little side shoot to access a hydro dam. The camp road is paid for and maintained by a road association of a scant handful of camp owners. The road is narrow and filled with "S-turns" until the edge of the lake is seen, then from there, it goes fairly straight. There is only one way in, thus there is only one way out -our only escape route. 

Over the years, I've not been the only camp owner who has disassembled illegal campfires at the dam…sometimes still smoldering. I'm not the only one who has concerns over the fires, the litter, the torching of trees with a flame thrower, the open gunfire, the spinning out vehicles, and 4-wheelers that leave trenched donuts throughout the roadway either. I will take the time to also mention, trash thrown on our property includes items such as underwear, panties, used condoms, dirty diapers, used tampons and pads, broken bottles, empty worm containers, beer cans, and discarded cigarette butts. I won't go into a situation several years ago, of a young couple having sex on a rock behind our camp. They strayed from their group for some private time and assumed, because all was quiet, that we were not here at the time.... or simply didn't care if we were. 

Aside from all that, there is a real concern about the possible fire hazards. With increased exposure and exploitation in this area, the increase in illegal fires, litter, increased chances of break-ins, and theft is a real concern.  Now, imagine an illegal campfire surrounded by softwoods and birch trees with natural oils that quickly and easily catch fire, hence why those tree parts are often used as fire starters.  

In an area of high winds, flames are either pushed toward us or away from us.  If towards us, how quickly and easily it’ll spread toward camps, blocking road access -our escape route. If away from us, it also means blocking our escape route.  

Now, picture this scenario and my situation with Paul, a Disabled Veteran in a wheelchair.  Being his official caregiver, I can tell you that a fire is a genuine concern.  If an illegal fire, left unattended or not put out properly and fully, depending on the wind direction, we may not wake before flames reach our camp or as the prewarning smoke filters through our windows.  Wind blowing in another direction pushes the fire along and crosses our camp road due to the many sharp twists and turns.  Either way, our exit is blocked by fire.

If you’ve never had to help someone into a wheelchair and into a vehicle then this concern may not resonate with you much, but I assure you, there is concern here.  With that said, I tend to be a bit protective of people when it comes to safety anyway, so there is that. 

Let’s say there is a fire, I can get Paul out and into the truck, what happens if the road becomes blocked by fire? Then, of course, I’d want to have time enough to warn and wake up any camp owner below us.  How can I?  You may think that because we have a stair lift to the boat, we can just go that way.  Ok, but if there is fire upon us, that stairlift works on power…it plugs into the solar system via converters.  Cords melt, and power is lost.  What then?  Tell Paul to tuck and roll down the stairs? The only way I’d do that push would be to save his life.  

Paul has recently been diagnosed with Stiff Persons Syndrome, which is no surprise, as it was suspected for a few years now, on top of all his other disabling medical issues that limit his mobility, but I won't go into those right now.  One may wonder, if such concerns and such limitations, then why be where we are in the first place?  Three words – Quality of Life. And as a Disabled Veteran, he’s already “paid his dues”, so to speak. If a wildfire goes through this area, the quality-of-life changes for everyone, not just for us.  

Though most people are responsible with their campfires, it only takes one match lit by one person to ruin the lives of others.  This is only MY personal story.  Others have their own.  I, for one, approve of this 2023 campfire regulation. However, there will be those who ignore the regulation, think they are exempt from it, and will do as they want no matter in the woods or within their own backyard.  Being responsible, or not, in certain conditions, even a small campfire can get out of control.  It’s a risk and gamble each of us take when having a campfire, legal or illegal.  It comes down to making the right choices, responsibility, the protection of these woods, and the people who live here.  Camp owners tend to be careful because we have so much to lose.  Careful or careless exploiters, not so much. 

Throughout my childhood, Smokey the Bear lessons were taught in school and reinforced by parents.  Does that still happen?