SPENCER – Fire officials across Massachusetts are pleading with residents to stop burning outdoors brush burning continue to spread.
In Spencer, Fire Chief Bob Parsons wrote Monday that his department is “a little surprised” about people still burning leaves or using fire pits in extremely dry conditions. He said firefighters responded to six burning outside fueled by people over the weekend.
Open burning is banned across the state through January, according to the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services.
“You would think that the constant media attention on news of the more than 100 wildfires in the state over the past seven days that have burned more than 600 acres would get people’s attention,” Parsons wrote. “No.”
In neighboring Oakham, crews helped put out fires in Spencer.
“We cannot emphasize enough that outdoor burning is not allowed under any circumstances,” the fire brigade said in a Facebook post on Saturday. “These fires are major fires that are currently depleting our local resources on a daily basis.”
Governor urges outdoor fire safety in Massachusetts
Gov. Maura Healey on Monday also urged residents to do their part, noting there is no significant rain in the forecast that could change conditions.
“As we face an unprecedented fall fire season, I ask all of our residents to protect themselves, their neighbors and their communities by refraining from outdoor activities that involve open flames, sparks and embers or other sources of heat,” Healey said. .
The Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts recommends local fire chiefs deny all fire-related permit applications for the time being. Residents are advised to cook and heat outdoors, use caution when using lawn mowers and leaf blowers with hot motors that can ignite leaves, and extinguish smoking materials in an ashtray and not outdoors.
The National Weather Service said it continued dry period means that there are again “heightened concerns about firefighters in southern New England” on Monday.
Where the largest wildfires are happening in Massachusetts
About 1,000 acres (483 hectares) in Massachusetts have burned in the past week, the state said.
The largest active wildfire identified by the state is underway Middleton Pond. The 188 hectare fire is approximately 70% under control.
The 140-acre Cain Hill fire in the Salem and the Lynn area is about 50% contained, the state said. The Curry 24 fire in Devens has destroyed 40 hectares, but is now 90% contained.
In the western part of the state, a 60-acre fire at Moose Meadow in Montgomery is only 20% contained, and the 55-acre Fitzgerald Fire in Northampton is 85% contained.
