CASTINE, Maine — As more than half of Maine remains in a severe drought , residents in the coastal town of Castine are taking fire prevention into their own hands—one branch at a time.

Witherle Woods, one of the town's densest forests, is getting some extra attention from volunteers and students. A new partnership between Maine Maritime Academy (MMA) and Maine Coast Heritage Trust (MCHT) is bringing over 150 volunteers together to clear out fire-prone brush and undergrowth.

"We're seeing the fires in Canada. If you live in Maine, I'm sure you saw smoke somewhere close by you. We're trying to avoid that here," MMA senior Patrick McGrath explained.

This community effort comes at a time when wildfires are becoming more common across the state due to intense drought and other weathe

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