Stand 1 - Point of Origin

The Bar Harbor Fire of 47, sometimes referred to as the Mount Desert Island Fire, started on Friday October 17, 1947. The Bar Harbor Fire Department received a call at 1605 reporting a fire at Dolliver's Dump on the Crooked Road. They responded with one pumper truck and 4 personnel. Arriving at 1618, they found a rapidly spreading one acre fire on the edge of Fresh Meadow. A direct attack was made and an additional 16 men arrived. Fire Chief David Sleeper called Acadia National Park for additional resources at 1645; they responded with a fire truck, a dump truck, 2 portable pumps and 5 men. Winds at the time were southwest at 8 to 10 miles per hour. The fire was burning across the bog and into the adjoining forestland. With these additional resources, crews worked through the night and by noon on October 18th it had been contained at about 100 acres. Mop-up and active patrolling continued through the evening of October 20th.

Traveling along Crooked Road toward the photo point, turn left onto Betsy's Road to park for Stand 1. The turn to Betsy's Road can be seen off to the right in the center of the photo. Stand 1 is the vista on the north side of the road.

Dolliver's Dump as it looked in 1947 and 1983. The dump is considered to be the point of origin of the fire.

Dolliver's Dump was on the edge of Fresh Meadow. The fire spread from the dump, across the meadow, and into the timber.