MIDDLETON — Massachusetts is under another red flag warning Tuesday, as are dozens brush burning continue to burn across the state.
What is a red flag warning?
The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for all of Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island until 6 p.m.
“A red flag warning means critical fire conditions are occurring now or will occur soon,” the agency said. “Any fire that occurs can spread quickly and be difficult to extinguish.”
Outdoor burning is not recommended during a red flag warning, and many communities in Massachusetts have announced this burning bans during the dry stretch.
Despite cooler temperatures on Tuesday, the fire risk is high due to the ongoing fire drought conditions and the potential for wind gusts between 25-40 mph.
CBS Boston
“The winds will be from the northwest,” said Eric Fisher, WBZ-TV’s chief meteorologist. “Those strong wind gusts are one of the biggest factors in the ability of some of these wildfires to spread.”
Where are fires burning in Massachusetts?
According to the latest wildfire information from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation, there were 247 fires in November, burning nearly 700 acres of land.
The largest new fire occurred on Mount Gilead on the Lynn Woods Reservation. Firefighters had brought 20% of the 415-hectare fire under control by Sunday evening. The Cain Hill fire in the Lynn/Salem area reportedly covered 140 hectares and was 60% contained.
“While there have been fires in Lynn Woods over the years, we have not had a fire of this magnitude in nearly 30 years,” the Lynn Fire Department said in a Facebook post Monday.
A fire in the Boxford State Forest in North Andover escaped containment this weekend and grew to 300 acres. Crews from New Hampshire and Maine are helping to battle the blaze, and a National Guard helicopter dropped buckets of water on the flames Monday.
North Andover Fire Department
The Middleton Pond fire has burned 242 acres and is 60% contained. Governor Maura Healey will visit the Middleton Fire Department Tuesday morning to thank the firefighters, who fighting fires weeks in the area.
Authorities say nearly all of the fires are human-caused, with several traced to abandoned campfires that have not been properly extinguished.
