Firefighters are grappling with persistent brush fires throughout Massachusetts, prompting officials to urge caution to prevent new incidents. Over the past week, hundreds of acres suffered damage in the greater Boston area, with additional blazes emerging in western and central regions. Typically, October sees around 15 wildland fires; however, this year that number skyrocketed to 200, paralleling figures from the more traditional spring fire season. Fire officials noted human activity as the cause for all fires that occurred in the last week of the month, which led some communities to cancel school and Halloween events.

On Friday, the National Weather Service issued a “red flag” warning for eastern Massachusetts due to dry, warm conditions increasing fire risk. Open burning is prohibited statewide through January, and fire officials have advised against outdoor cooking, heating, and using power tools, as hot engines can ignite dry vegetation. Additionally, residents are warned against carelessly discarding cigarette butts in hazardous areas. On Saturday, a Boston man faced charges related to a Milford fire, located 40 miles west of Boston; he was charged with setting fire to another’s land and burning land, trees, lumber, and produce.

Chief Fire Warden David Celino reported that more than a quarter of this year’s fires occurred in October, accounting for over half of the 1,158 acres burned so far. “The weather conditions and dry surface fuels…are expected to continue,” warned Celino. State Fire Marshal Jon Davine emphasized that nearly 45% of homes are near potential fire zones, where activities like outdoor cooking or using power equipment often ignite blazes. (This story was generated by Newser’s AI chatbot. Source: the AP)