Firefighters across Massachusetts are battling wildfires

SALEM – Firefighters continue to battle wildfires across Massachusetts as the state experiences its first severe drought in two years.

Wildfires are breaking out across Massachusetts

Area firefighters responded to Monson on Friday for a large wildfire that was threatening homes and fought for hours to get the blaze under control. While more fires broke out in Spencer, burning almost 11 hectares of national forest land, and in Northampton.

The Massachusetts Department of Fire Services said that while the department doesn’t have final numbers yet, the fires in the western part of the state have taken up a lot of resources. Fire departments in the area said resources were “extremely tight.”

Firefighters are struggling to get the fires under control

In the meantime you are lighting fires in the northeastern part of the state kept burning. The Castle Rick fire in Saugus burned 20 acres and had no containment. The Cain Hill Fire in Salem and Lynn engulfed 300 acres and was 50% contained. The Traders Way fire in Salem was still burning at 40 acres and was 50% contained.

At least 100 fires have burned across 424 acres across the state since Saturday, according to the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). red flag warning This will be issued on Friday by the National Weather Service.

Despite the forest fires around Salem, visitors gathered in the city for Halloween celebrations.

Prevent fires

The state fire department is asking everyone to exercise extreme caution in the event of a fire.

“The dry, sunny, breezy weather is great for recreation, but it also means that any outdoor fire will spread quickly and become very difficult to contain,” said State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine. “We are seeing preventable fires reaching dangerous proportions and tapping numerous sources locally and regionally.”

The fire brigade asks people:

• Do not burn leaves. (Open burning is prohibited until January)
• Avoid cooking and heating outside.
• Use caution with lawn mowers, leaf blowers and other electrical equipment as motors can become hot enough to ignite dry leaves.
• Pour the ashes from fireplaces and wood stoves into a metal tin, cover with water and cover with a tight-fitting lid.
• Extinguish smoking materials in an ashtray with water or sand.