More than 75 firefighters on Thursday responded to a three-mile area of brush fires between Scarborough and Biddeford caused by sparks from a freight train.
The Portland Press Herald reported the five-alarm fire destroyed at least 10 campers at the Wagon Wheel RV Resort and Campground in Old Orchard Beach and forced several home evacuations. John Glass, the town’s fire chief, said that no residents were believed to be hurt, but several firefighters were treated for exhaustion.
Railroad officials are currently investigating how the freight train, which was stopped in Portland, caused the large-scale brush fire. Glass said while it’s not uncommon trains to spark brush fires, it’s unusual for such a fire to span entire towns.
All of the fires were contained by 11 p.m. on Thursday.
