Penobscot Crews Battle Five-Acre Wildfire

August 30, 2026 —Near the intersection of Dunbar Road and Castine Road, Penobscot firefighters and mutual aid departments battled a rapidly spreading blaze for almost six and a half hours.

The fire was discovered in a remote, challenging-to-reach location just before noon. The Maine Forest Service, Castine Fire Rescue Department, and Orland Fire Department were among the additional resources requested by first-arriving personnel, who confirmed that the wildfire was spreading.

Departments from Bucksport, Blue Hill, Brooklin, Sedgwick, Brooksville, Trenton, Hancock, and Sullivan joined the operation as the fire expanded. In the end, at least 12 agencies provided assistance, and roughly 50 volunteer firemen were on the site.

To create control lines and combat the fire, crews employed two bulldozers, thousands of feet of forestry hose, a variety of equipment, and hand tools. Additionally, two water drops were made by the Maine Forest Service using a helicopter. On Saturday nite, the fire, which had spread across about five acres, was mostly contained.

On Sunday, firefighters kept up their efforts to deal with hot areas and flare-ups. According to officials, the fire was challenging to put out due to dry conditions and a thick layer of flammable organic material on the forest floor.

The cause of the fire is still being looked into. Drivers were instructed to use Shore Road as a detour while Castine Road was closed due to ongoing fire efforts.