Rain helped tamp down the brush fires that have been smoldering across Massachusetts, but it’s not believed to be enough to have stopped the risk — and above-average temperatures forecast for Halloween are expected to exacerbate the problem.
Dozens of brush fires were continuing to wreak havoc across Massachusetts Wednesday, and those unyielding flames were still creating widespread haze in parts of the state.
A firefighting task force was back out in full force in Salem on Wednesday – continuing to work to completely contain two wildfires, seven acres in Salem Woods and about 170 acres between Spring Lake and Highland Avenue.
Spirits were lifted -- much like the smoke that had settled over the city Tuesday.
“This is the first morning we haven’t had smoke since Saturday, so we are very happy about that and the schools will stay in all day today unless something flares up," Salem Fire Chief Alan Dionne said. "We have no airwing coming in, no need for it, and Halloween shall go off!”
That’s great news for the thousands of ghosts and goblins hoping Haunted Happenings will go off without a hitch on Halloween.
And the light rain overnight is partially to thank for that.
“Of course I’m happy about the rain," Marcia Weinstein Steinbrook of Marblehead said. "I mean, I saw the helicopters flying over, dumping, I mean it looked like little pails, you know like trying to put out a kitchen fire with teapot.”
“0.21 inches of rain last night, so that’s encouraging, and I don’t see any open burns or a lot of plumes of smoke right now," Dionne said. "Although it is still smoking in there, so that tells us there’s enough heat that it could flare up again later.”
The rain overnight likely won’t extinguish these fires completely, but it should hopefully help a little, and firefighters here will take any break they can get.
But the rain isn't believed to have been enough to eliminate the elevated fire risk, according to David Celino, chief fire warden at the Department of Conservation and Recreation.
"What's really is worrisome for us is ... short range is the return to above average temperatures, the potential for 80 degrees on Thursday," he said.
Celino's agency has also put a temporary ban on all open flame and charcoal fires at state parks to try to reduce the risk for additional fires.
In Lynn, Jose Gonzalez said the situation has been a nightmare that doesn't seem to be at an end.
"It's been hectic," he said. "Worried every night — you don't know if it's going to to reach your house or not. The smoke's been terrible. You have to keep the kids inside."
