Support local fire department and oppose NECEC

To the Editor;

Pacific Gas & Electric has finally decided to bury 10,000 miles of power lines in California to prevent further fires. The current California fire potentially caused by power lines has exceeded 100,000 acres. The Baxter State Park fire in 1977, started by a lightning strike, consumed 3,500 acres and cost almost one million in 1977 dollars to put out — which equals about $4.5 million today.

Central Maine Power, apparently in order to get awarded the contract cheaply for Massachusetts, decided that burying power lines across the largest forest east of the Mississippi was not an option. One of the nearest fire departments to the New England Clean Energy Connect is the small volunteer fire department in West Forks. Should a fire break out, this small dedicated fire department could be the first to respond with their volunteer crew. When the Forest Service is called in to help the bill could be well in the millions. We as taxpayers would foot the bill. 

Please donate to the West Forks Fire Department. They need all the help they can get! Only you can prevent forest fires, vote yes to reject the CMP corridor!

Edwin Buzzell

Pittsfield