Large brush fire scorches 25 acres.

Byline: Aaron Nicodemus 

UPTON - A large brush fire off High Street scorched 25 acres yesterday, and took area firefighters four hours to bring under control.

Firefighters from area departments responded to the fire behind a home at 84 High St. about 2:30 p.m.

Although trees were burned, the only structure destroyed was a utility shed behind the home.

Fire Chief Michael J. Bradford Sr. said the cause of the fire is undetermined.

Fire investigators initially believed the fire had been caused by a rekindling of a flame from a controlled fire from the homeowner.

"The homeowner showed us where he had been burning, and it was nowhere near the fire," Chief Bradford said.

The homeowner also told investigators that he had not burned in about a week. He did have a permit, Chief Bradford said.

The fire was initially spotted by a state employee in the Mendon fire tower near the Millville line, although the home at 84 High St. is a quarter mile from the Upton fire station.

"It's a valuable tool for us," Chief Bradford said of the tower.

Funding for the state Department of Recreation and Conservation is being threatened by cuts, including staffing of the fire tower, he said.

"We really depend on it," he said.

Firefighters from Upton were joined by crews responding from Hopkinton, Milford, Hopedale, Grafton, Northbridge, Millville, Blackstone, Mendon, Douglas, Auburn, and Millbury, as well as assistance from the state fire marshal's office in Douglas. Firefighters from Westboro covered the Upton fire station.