A Dozen Fire Departments Battle Wildland Fire on Cape Cod, MA

JOINT BASE CAPE COD — A persistent brush fire burned into Saturday night across at least 20 acres at Joint Base Cape Cod as more than a dozen fire departments and other agencies from around the region converged to fight it.

While the cause of the fire is still under investigation, several officials said it appeared to be caused by an overnight lightning strike.

The Joint Base Cape Cod Fire Department was called at 6 a.m. to the range area of the base, a base fire official said.

The operation grew at around 10 a.m. as officials from the Sandwich Fire Department and the state Department of Conservation and Recreation called the state police at 10 a.m. for help with a helicopter.

A state police helicopter and two National Guard Black Hawk helicopters picked up water from Snake Pond in Sandwich and dropped it on the fire Saturday afternoon and evening, according to state police. A state police dive team was at the pond, and a boat on the water, to keep people away from the operation, police said.

The water drops were halted at dusk Saturday, and were set to continue from 8 a.m. Sunday until the fire was out. Firefighters were still on the scene as of 9 p.m., and several departments said they were expecting to continue in the morning.

Massachusetts National Guard spokesman Colonel James Sahady said that the fire is contained, but close to the unexploded ordinance area on the base, and that officials are continuing to monitor the situation.

State police were also monitoring traffic on Route 6 in case the fire would affect traffic flow, the spokesman said.

There was a haze of smoke in the village of Sandwich on Saturday.

Not bothered by the helicopters swooping in and out to collect water, dozens of families played on the beach at Snake Pond Saturday afternoon.

Many fire departments from surrounding towns responded to the scene with equipment and firefighters, including Sandwich, Bourne, Mashpee, West Barnstable, Onset, Wareham, Middleboro, Plymouth, Carver and Marion.

The base is a 22,000-acre military training complex in the westernmost towns on Cape Cod.

Officials did not release any information about the cause of the fire Saturday.

—Staff writers George Brennan and Maryann Bragg contributed to this story.

———

Visit Cape Cod Times, Hyannis, Mass. at www.capecodtimes.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.