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‘Dodged a bullet’: Endangered birds unharmed in Hampton Beach bushfire

Theo

A fire raged through a portion of the Hampton Beach dunes early Saturday morning. The dunes are home to a delicate ecosystem that includes the nesting grounds of the endangered ringed plovers. Hampton Fire Chief Michael McMahon responded to a 911 call about 3 a.m. for a reported campfire on the beach. McMahon said several fire crews responded and discovered a fire spreading through the marsh grass of the sand dunes near the south end of Hampton Beach State Park. After the fire was extinguished, biologists from New Hampshire Fish and Wildlife arrived to assess the damage and its impact on the plovers. Biologist Brendan Clifford said although the fire burned more than an acre of dune grass, all of the birds were still there and appeared unharmed. “We didn’t lose any nests or chicks, so it seems like we dodged a bullet there,” Clifford said. The areas around the dunes are cordoned off and clearly marked with signs warning beachgoers of 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 approaching a group of cottages near the state park parking lot. “I’m worried about the cottages here, we’re all packed in,” Benson said. “I wonder how the ringed plovers are doing, because they’re trying to protect this area as best they can.” The Hampton Fire Department is investigating the cause of the fire.

HAMPTON, NH —

A fire raged in an area of ​​the dunes at Hampton Beach early Saturday morning.

The dunes are home to a sensitive ecosystem and are, among other things, nesting sites for the endangered ringed plovers.

Hampton Fire Chief Michael McMahon said the emergency call came in around 3 a.m. following a report of a campfire on the beach.

McMahon said several emergency crews were dispatched and found a fire spreading in the marsh grass on the sand dunes near the southern end of Hampton Beach State Park.

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After the fire was extinguished, biologists from New Hampshire Fish and Wildlife arrived to assess the damage and its impact on the plovers.

Biologist Brendan Clifford said that although more than one hectare of dune grass had been burned by the fire, all the birds were still there and appeared unharmed.

“We haven’t lost any nests or chicks, so it seems like we dodged a bullet,” Clifford said.

The areas around the dunes are cordoned off and have clearly marked signs warning beachgoers about the sensitive habitat.

Plover

Hearst owner

A sign marking the protected habitat of the Ringed Plover at Hampton Beach

Chris Benson, who saw the flames early Saturday morning and called 9-1-1, told News9 he saw the fire spreading and approaching a group of cabins near the state park parking lot.

Plover

Hearst owner

A ringed plover lands on the sand at Hampton Beach

“I’m worried about the huts here, we’re all packed together,” Benson said. “I wonder how the ringed plovers are doing, because they’re trying to protect this area as best they can.”

The Hampton Fire Department is investigating the cause of the fire.

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