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Multiple brush fires clouded the skies of Eastern Massachusetts with smoke early this week, as officials warned residents to be careful.
On Saturday night, crews battled a fire in Salem, and a woman was found dead at the scene of a small brush fire in Millbury. By Monday morning, residents were smelling smoke from fires all across Eastern Massachusetts. Experts said that “very dry conditions and gusty northwest winds” would cause flames to spread quickly. All of southern New England was placed under a red flag warning, which alerts firefighters and the public when there are unfavorable conditions that could lead to “dangerous wildfire growth.”
Follow below for regular updates on the situation.
According to the National Weather Service, small fires have broken out all over Massachusetts during the past few days, and the largest consumed more than 100 acres in Salem.
Officials said early Monday morning that smoke was being “trapped” near the ground, but could disperse later in the day. At around 1 p.m. Monday afternoon, Accuweather’s smoke map showed wildfire smoke over Middleton, North Reading, and Lynnfield. Another concentration of smoke was seen above Salem, Swampscott, and near Nahant.
A detailed look at where there have been fires can be found through an online interactive map published by the National Interagency Fire Center. As of Monday afternoon, it showed more than 50 recent and ongoing fires. Many were concentrated in the southeastern part of the state and along I-90 from Worcester to Springfield.
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SALEM – Brush fires in Salem and other parts of northeastern Massachusetts continued to burn Monday morning, with smoke being detected as far south as Boston.
In Salem, more than 100 acres has burned in the brush fires, which started Saturday. The fires have been spreading as tourists converge on Salem for Halloween events downtown.
The fires have not had any impact on the festivities, but the drifting smoke could be smelled from miles away.
Salem Fire Chief Alan Dionne said the flames have been very difficult to put out because the terrain between Salem, Peabody and Lynn is very secluded and rocky.
Several local and state agencies are now using helicopter water drops and drones to identify the heavy burn areas and put out flames.
“It’s a lot of acreage and getting to it is the hardest part,” Dionne told WBZ-TV Sunday. “It’s just one of those fires that’s going to smolder for a long time. And when it smolders overnight and then it gets fresh air and a breeze in the morning and especially if there’s a wind change, then it could flare up again.”
No one has been hurt and there are no reports of any homes or business being damaged in the fires, which are also an issue in Middleton, which is about 10 miles northwest of Salem.
“Both incidents will require lengthy, heavily committed, multi agency operations to be placed under under control,” Northeast Massachusetts Emergency Alerts said in a statement on Facebook.
Brush fires were reported as far south as Rehoboth on Sunday. A firefighter there was brought to the hospital because of the heat, but is expected to be okay, according to WPRI-TV.
FRAMINGHAM – With less than two months to go before the holiday season, the organizers of “Shop with a Cop” in Massachusetts are looking for donations to support hundreds of children in need.
The annual event pairs Metro West children in financial need with a police officer for a holiday shopping spree. It involves roughly 100 police officers from across the state, as well as appearances from Santa and the Grinch.
Framingham Police Officer Matt Gutwill, who leads the event, said 800 applications are expected this year, with roughly 500 children who will be identified as in need. Right now the event, which is funded by donations to the Framingham Police Association, only has enough money to provide for 125 children.
Gutwill said other charitable organizations have reached out to “Shop with a Cop” to fill in funding gaps during the busy holiday season.
The event has run for seven years and has served more than 2,000 children in Metro West, providing them with about $155,000 in gifts, clothing and food. Gutwill said it has a positive impact on children and officers.
“As a police officer, I go to a lot of different calls and I see a lot of different things that are heartbreaking or devastating to us,” said Gutwill. “Seeing a child’s face and how rewarding it is to us to build a relationship with a child that will last for years…that’s huge for us.”
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