Massachusetts
Where brush fires are burning in Massachusetts
BOSTON – Dry conditions have persisted and with no rain in the immediate forecast, several Massachusetts communities are dealing with significant brush fires.
According to the Department of Fire Services, as of Saturday night there have been 106 brush and wildland fires reported over the last week. In total, the fires have burned around 600 acres.
Five new fires have been reported since Friday, officials said.
Massachusetts brush fires
Here is where fires are currently burning in Massachusetts, as of Saturday night:
- Cain Hill (Salem/Lynn) – 140 acres, 50% contained
- Middleton Pond (Middleton) – 188 acres, 70% contained
- Pappas (Canton) – 32 acres, 90% contained
- Wolcott Hill/Blue Hills Reservation (Milton) – 4 acres, 70% contained
- Curry 24 (Devens) – 100 acres, 99% contained
- Maple Meadow (Wilmington) – 10 acres, 70% contained
- Mt. Laurel (Holden) – 6 acres, 95% contained
- Traders Way (Salem) – 15 acres, 50% contained
- Old Forest Rd (North Andover) – 5 acres, 30% contained
- Bradway (Monson) – 44 acres, 90% contained
- Castle Rock (Saugus) – 22 acres, 80% contained
- Pond South (Middleton) – 4 acres, 60% contained
- Fitzgerald (Northampton) – 54 acres, 30% contained
- Moose Meadow (Montgomery) – 60 acres, 60% contained
- Howe (Spencer) – 9.5 acres, 30% contained
How to prevent brush fires
As fires continue to burn, the Department of Fire Services is asking people to take precautions. Here are their tips for preventing fires:
- Do not burn leaves. (Open burning is prohibited through January)
- Refrain from outdoor cooking and heating.
- Use caution with lawnmowers, leaf blowers and other power equipment as engines can get hot enough to ignite dry leaves.
- Dump ashes from fireplaces and wood stoves in a metal can, douse them with water, and cover them with a tight-fitting lid.
- Extinguish smoking materials in an ashtray with water or sand.
Massachusetts
Drought expected to worsen, raising risk for dangerous brush fires in Massachusetts
BOSTON – New month, same old weather story. The warm and dry conditions are expected to continue for at least the first half of November.
Brush fire concerns remain atop the headlines. Tuesday and Wednesday are forecast to be very warm and windy and we are likely to see some renewed red flag warnings posted around southern New England.
Needless to say, any and all outdoor burning is a terrible idea right now and should be avoided at all costs.
Both Boston and Worcester continue to be at or near the record for driest meteorological fall.
Other than a few sprinkles, this week is expected to be just about bone dry. Our next chance of any significant rainfall looks to be early next week.
Therefore, we expect the drought conditions to worsen again this week. We will get an update of the Drought Monitor on Thursday and the percentage of both moderate and severe drought areas in Massachustts could climb significantly.
For the third straight week, we will see a big jump in temperatures for a few days. The warmest days this week will be Tuesday and Wednesday.
There is a high probability of breaking records Wednesday afternoon with highs expected to climb well into the 70s.
Keep in mind that average highs this time of year are in the mid 50s.
Combine that with some very gusty winds over the next few days and you have a recipe for dangerous and rapidly spreading brush fires.
Boston area forecast
No weather issues expected at the polls on Tuesday. Mild and breezy conditions all day long.
Later this week, (Thursday through the weekend) temperatures will come back to near normal but still no significant rainfall expected. Looks like another very pleasant weekend.
Lastly, we will be monitoring a new Tropical Depression this week. It is expected to become a hurricane (Rafael) by Wednesday and then head into the Gulf of Mexico later this week. We will have much more on this in the coming days.
Massachusetts
Brush fire continues burning in Massachusetts and more top stories
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Massachusetts
Massachusetts Firefighters Battle Unprecedented October Brush Fires
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)
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