Edgartown, West Tisbury and state firefighters banded together to stamp out a large brush fire near the Pohogonot Farm on Wednesday, battling the blaze throughout the afternoon.

Initial blaze was quelled but stubborn hotspots had the attention of firefighters all afternoon Wednesday. — Mark Alan Lovewell

The fire, which began mid-day Wednesday and marks the first of the spring season, scorched about 2.1 acres of pitch pine and small vegetation around 33 Boldwater Road, just north and west of the Edgartown Great Pond.

The blaze had died down by late afternoon, although firefighters were still monitoring the area just before dark to check for hot spots.

Speaking to the Gazette by phone late Wednesday, Edgartown fire chief Alex Schaeffer said the department received a call at 2:08 p.m., responding to the scene with brush breakers and water tankers.

The department then requested mutual aid from West Tisbury, as well as state Department of Conservation and Recreation firefighter Karen Lothrop.

Pohogonot Road is just east of the Manuel F. Correllus State Forest.

“[Karen’s] expertise in wild land scenario and our mutual aid partners in West Tisbury are invaluable to us,” Chief Schaeffer said. “We’re not fighting it every day out there. Our background is more structural in nature.”

Chief Schaeffer said the fire grew quickly due to dry conditions.

“It was relatively small when it was first reported, but with it being so dry and conditions being as they are, it spread pretty quickly,” Chief Schaeffer said. “We were lucky that there was a driveway layout in that area at some of the adjacent properties. That really allowed for some fire breaks for us, giving us an opportunity to get in there and stay out of it.”

Edgartown fire chief sounded note of caution to the public during dry spring conditions. — Mark Alan Lovewell

The fire did not affect any structures, lingering just on the outskirts of properties along the road. No one was evacuated, Chief Schaeffer said.

Firefighters had left the scene by 5:30 p.m., wetting the last remaining hot spots.

“We were out there for quite a bit,” Chief Schaeffer said. “The initial knockdown is fast-action, but then we spend a lot of time doing mop-up, making sure there’s no reason to call us back for hot-spots.”

A second crew of firefighters returned to the scene just before dusk, making sure that the area was clear for the night, chief Schaeffer said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

“There’s one particular area that’s of interest for us, but it doesn’t look as if there was any foul play,” Chief Schaeffer said.

Chief Schaeffer estimated that the brush fire was the largest in at least several years, although he said the department had previously dealt with other brush fires off Boldwater Road.

At least two brush fires scorched the Island last fall, as the southeastern portion of the state, including the Cape and Islands, experienced significant drought conditions.

Dry weather has carried over into spring, with the latter portion of March and early April seeing a series of warm, sunny days and little rain. Chief Schaeffer urged residents to use caution, especially considering the conditions.

“All the agencies that responded were really taken aback at how dry things still are,” Chief Schaeffer said. “Be smart with what you’re doing outside, so that we don’t run into any kind of catastrophe like this.”