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Helicopters dump water on Massachusetts brush fires, smoke seen for miles

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Helicopters dump water on Massachusetts brush fires, smoke seen for miles


MIDDLETON – Brush fire smoke could be seen for miles as it gripped the Middleton community. Firefighters said it could take days to fight the fire and for the smoke to clear out.

From the air as the sun set, smoldering smoke rose above the woodlands of Middleton. The fight against flames and thick smoke continued with buckets of water being dumped by helicopters over a brush fire burning in its second day.

“It’s never been this dry in my whole life that I’ve seen, I’m surprised they had enough water to fight it with,” said Wayne Farrin whose mother lives in Middleton.

50-acre brush fire in Middleton

The flames started near powerlines by Upton Hills Road, then soon spread to a 50-acre brush fire leaving overwhelming thick smoke hanging over the neighborhood.

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Helicopter wildfire Massachusetts
A helicopter dumps a bucket of water on a brush fire in Middleton, Massachusetts. 

CBS Boston


“It is scary because it’s so dry it can spread fast,” said Jay Weaver who lives in the neighborhood.

Firefighters ran several water lines through the tricky terrain. With dry weather and dry ground, it’s the perfect recipe for brush fires.

“The leaves, the dead branches, that stuff happens you know but I have faith in the fire department and stuff like that, they’re doing their job,” said Weaver.

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More than 100 acres burned in Salem  

In Salem, crews worked to protect neighborhoods as a brush fire spread through the woods behind homes. Already more than 100 acres have burned.

In the tough conditions, the task hasn’t been easy for Salem firefighters who worked hard to snuff out smoldering hot spots with every tool they had.

“We’re making sure it doesn’t get to close,” said Deputy Fire Chief Peter Schaeublin.

18 brush fires in last 24 hours

With 18 active brush fires reported across the state in the past 24 hours, people as far south as Boston could smell it. Neighbors in the thick of it know if the wind changes, anything can change.

“Hopefully they can get it contained and no one’s house will get burned and families lose their houses you know it would be sad if something like that happened,” said Farrin.

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When it got dark Monday night, firefighters left the area where brush fires were burning for their safety, but they’ll go back out if a neighbor calls. The fight continues first thing Tuesday morning.

State fire marshal urges caution

The state fire marshal’s office urged Massachusetts residents to use extra caution with any open flame or other heat source outdoors.

“The dry, sunny, breezy weather is great for recreation, but it also means that any outdoor fire will spread quickly and become very difficult to manage,” said State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine. “We’re seeing preventable fires growing to dangerous sizes and drawing numerous resources, locally and regionally.”

The fire marshal said open burning is prohibited statewide through January and in many communities year-round. Officials urged residents to refrain from outdoor cooking and heating, and to use caution with lawnmowers, leaf blowers and other power equipment.  

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Massachusetts

Massachusetts man awaits word from family in Iran after attacks

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Massachusetts man awaits word from family in Iran after attacks




Massachusetts man awaits word from family in Iran after attacks – CBS Boston

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Poya Sohrabi hasn’t heard from his family since they took shelter from attacks in Tehran. WBZ-TV’s Mike Sullivan reports.

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How will the Iran war impact gas prices in Massachusetts?

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How will the Iran war impact gas prices in Massachusetts?


With a widening conflict in the Middle East after the American and Israeli attack on Iran Saturday, global markets are bracing for a shakeup in the energy supply chain.

So, here at home, what can consumers expect at the gas pump?

An increase in oil prices is almost always followed by an increase in gas prices. And the oil market has already reacted to the war. NBC News reported on Sunday that U.S. crude oil initially spiked more than 10%, while Brent, the international oil benchmark, rose as much as 13%.

Early Monday morning, reports were coming in of black smoke rising from the U.S. embassy in Kuwait City.

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While Iran’s oil reserves supply less than an estimated 5% of global production, the main concern is the Strait of Hormuz. This maritime passageway borders Iran at the bottleneck of the Persian Gulf, and more than 20% of the world’s oil passes through. If Iran closes or restricts Hormuz, the oil market could face severe disruptions.

Gas prices rise about 2.5 cents for every dollar increase in crude oil prices. As of Sunday, U.S. crude oil prices had already increased by nearly $5 a barrel.

“I fully expect that by Monday night, you could credibly say that gas prices are being impacted by oil prices having gone up,” GasBuddy analyst Patrick De Haan told NBC News.

GasBuddy characterizes their expectations for price increases as “incremental” rather than “explosive”. The group said to anticipate a potential 10-15 cent increase over the next couple of weeks.

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Body camera video shows Massachusetts police officer save 78-year-old man from burning truck – East Idaho News

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Body camera video shows Massachusetts police officer save 78-year-old man from burning truck – East Idaho News


EASTON, Mass. (WBZ) — Police body camera video shows an Easton, Massachusetts, officer rescuing a 78-year-old Raynham man from a burning car on Friday morning.

A Mack dump truck was experiencing problems on the side of Turnpike Street just after 2 a.m. when a Ford pickup truck struck the back of it, according to police.

The pickup truck then became stuck under the dump truck, trapping the driver, Francis Leverone, inside. A Toyota Camry then hit the back of the pickup truck and caught fire, police said.

Easton police officer Dean Soucie arrived at the crash and saw that the two vehicles were on fire. Video shows Soucie rushing over before breaking the driver’s side window and then, with the help of the two witnesses, freeing Leverone from the pickup truck. Soucie said he was confused but conscious.

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“As I reached inside the vehicle, one of the passersby — he actually jumped into the cab of the truck, and he helped me free the individual,” Soucie said.

They then carried the driver to safety.

Leverone was taken to a nearby hospital before being transferred to a Boston hospital. He received serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

No one else was injured in the crash.

Dee Leverone told WBZ her husband is doing OK. “I’m just thankful for the people that got him out,” she said. “Very thankful.”

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After watching the police body-cam video on the news she said, “I was shocked, I was like ‘Oh my God!’ I just couldn’t believe it. His truck is like melted.”

She says she realized that something was wrong last night when her husband never made it home from work.

“I kept trying to call him and call him, and I finally got a hold of him at like 4:30 a.m., and he was at (Good Samaritan Hospital) and he told me he’s gotten in an accident,” Dee said.

She says he’s recovering at the Boston Medical Center and being treated for a dislocated hip.

“He’s a trooper,” Dee said. “He’s a strong man — and you know he’s 78, but you know he’s a toughie. He definitely is a toughie.”

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Soucie commended the help of the two witnesses and said that before he arrived at the crash, they had attempted to put out the flames with a fire extinguisher and removed a gasoline tank from the pickup truck before it could ignite.

“They jumped into action like it was nothing,” Soucie said. “Those two individuals were absolutely awesome.”

Easton Police Chief Keith Boone said that he is “extremely proud” of Soucie and the witnesses.

“He saved a life last night,” Chief Boone said. “He is an exemplary police officer and this is just one example. I think he’s a hero.”

Turnpike Street was closed for several hours following the crash. Easton Police are investigating.

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