'Dodged a bullet'; Endangered birds unharmed in Hampton Beach brushfire
'Dodged a bullet'; Endangered birds unharmed in Hampton Beach brushfire
Fire burned through more than an acre of dune grass
Fire burned through more than an acre of dune grass
Fire burned through more than an acre of dune grass
A fire burned through an area of the dunes at Hampton Beach early Saturday morning.
The dunes are home to a delicate ecosystem, including the nesting grounds for the endangered Piping Plovers.
Hampton fire Chief Michael McMahon said the call around 3 a.m. for a report of a bonfire on the beach.
McMahon said multiple crews responded and found a fire spreading in the marsh grasses on the sand dunes near the south end of Hampton Beach State Park.
Once the fire was put out, biologists with New Hampshire Fish and Wildlife arrived to survey the damage and its impact on the plovers.
Biologist Brendan Clifford said while the fire burned more than an acre of the dune grass, all the birds were still accounted for and appeared to be unharmed.
"We did not lose any nests or any chicks, so seems like we dodged a bullet there," Clifford said.
Areas around the dunes are roped off and clearly marked with signs warning beach visitors about the fragile habitat.
Chris Benson, who saw the flames early Saturday morning and called 9-1-1, told News9 he saw the fire growing and getting closer to a group of cottages near the state park parking lot.
“I got concerned about the cottages here, we’re all on top of each other," Benson said. “I wonder how the Piping Plovers are making out because they are trying to protect this area best they can.”
The Hampton Fire Department is investigating the cause of the fire.
