CARIBOU, Maine – Heavy winds on Sunday led to downed power lines, brush fires and more than 2,000 power outages in Aroostook County. The number of outages in The County had fallen to more than 200 by Monday morning, according to Versant.
The heavy Easter Sunday winds resulted in more than 10,000 power outages throughout the state, with Versant reporting a total of 9,931 and Central Maine Power reporting an additional 2,644.
Officials at the National Weather Service also reported that the winds could lead to an elevated risk of fire throughout the state, issuing a red flag warning for portions of southern and coastal Maine for April 20. The warning is issued when weather conditions such as high winds and low humidity increase the likelihood of fires spreading.
North Lakes Fire & Rescue, which consists of three departments and covers many northern Aroostook communities around waterways including Long Lake, Mud Lake, Cross Lake, Madawaska Lake and Square Lake, also reported downed lines on Sunday via social media.
Long Lakes Chief Darren Woods, who also serves as the emergency management director for Aroostook County, said on Monday that officials learned about the downed power lines from a crew member with a camp on Cross Lake.
He said he was not aware of any injuries or property damage caused by winds in the communities he covers. And while the wind knocked down trees in the area, Woods said it did not result in any road closures.
When winds are high, Woods said the agency typically tells people not to light any campfires, to make sure they are prepared for power outages, and to avoid travel if possible as downed trees and power lines can be hazardous.
In central Aroostook, the Caribou Fire and Ambulance Department reported a large brush fire on 2250 Van Buren Road in Connor. An hour later, the department reported that there were multiple emergency scenes including downed wires and brush fires in Caribou, Woodland, New Sweden and Connor.
The department updated both posts on Sunday afternoon and indicated that all emergency scenes had been cleared. The department did not report any injuries occurring as a result of these incidents.
On Sunday, the Maine Forest Rangers reported via social media that they responded to wildfires in over 30 locations throughout the state, including Presque Isle, Caribou, Ashland and several communities outside of Aroostook County.
