A small blaze that erupted into a full-blown forest fire atop Mount Major in Alton late Thursday afternoon had firefighters from around the region working into the night to keep it from spreading.

The fire was one of many that crews had to battle Thursday as dry conditions created a Class 5 fire danger.

Nearly 50 firefighters from seven departments joined the Alton department and forest rangers in the evening battle to keep the Mount Major fire from sweeping across the mountaintop. Despite the best efforts of the firefighters on the scene, the flames took hold on the southwesterly ridge in what was the second outbreak of fire on the mounta that day.

Departments began staging at the base of Mount Major just after 4:30 p.m., unloading forestry units and manpower in the park's parking lot. However, department commanders were unable to get direct access to the burn area.

It took the better part of an hour to try and find a path for firefighters to take, allowing the initial brush fire to take hold.

RAY MONGEAU/For The Citizen A helicopter uses a bag to get water from a pond at the end of Jesus Valley Road in Alton to dump on a fire in the Mount Major area. * Order a print of this photo

Crews were never able to gain access to the burn area with forestry vehicles and, by that time, the fire had consumed 10 acres. With the fire continuing to grow, firefighters called in a helicopter to douse the flames with water collected from Lake Winnipesaukee, though it appeared to make little difference.

By 7:30 p.m., Lakes Region Mutual Fire Aid was already putting the call out to area fire departments from as far away as Strafford to help continue the effort at first light today. Calls went out to at least six departments, requesting volunteers to form a minimum of a five-man team.

Todd Burke and Mike Deveno were heading down from a late-afternoon hike when the fire broke out. Both recalled seeing a ball of smoke shoot up above the treeline from the peak of Mount Major.

"It kind of started real quick and then died down for a second," said Deveno. "It's almost like someone started a pile of brush."

Once the two realized it was a blaze out of control, they were relieved to have made it out of the woods before the situation got any worse.

Firefighters cleared the trails of hikers, keeping unsuspecting people who were out to enjoy the early evening from getting trapped by the flames.

Alton fire officials expected to keep a crew at the mountain all night long, monitoring the fire's reach while doing what they could. The full force of the Alton Fire Department planned to converge on the mountain again at 6 a.m. today.

According to Lakes Region Mutual Fire Aid, which dispatched for several reported fires on Thursday, the communities of Belmont, Thornton, Bristol and Alton experienced the most significant brush fires of the day.