A large brush fire remains a threat for neighborhoods in Gloucester Tuesday, as firefighters spend a second day fighting the flames.
Firefighters have been busy working to try and stop the brush fire from spreading, after it originally broke out Monday morning near Poles Hill and Riverview Road.
During the second day of the fire response, there were water hoses stretched across front yards in the Gloucester neighborhood as hot spots continue to spread.
"When I looked out the window I could see this big plume of smoke that was just kind of billowing out across the sky, and we heard helicopters. Like so many helicopters," Donna Shaw said.
Neighbors said the fire took off quickly Monday, amid dry and windy conditions.
"We definitely need rain," Lance Shaw said." We’re definitely in a drought obviously, as Matt Noyes reminds us of frequently.”
Firefighters were planning to start their work up again at first light Tuesday morning. But, they ended up getting a call at 1 a.m. from a neighbor on Washington Street, saying she looked into her backyard and saw fire. Firefighters were working to clear that for about four hours, putting out hot spots.
There were 11 firefighters that came to help during that overnight response.
Nearly 10 acres of land have burned.
People in the Poles Hill area should expect light smoke in the area over the next few days, while crews work on preventing flare ups because of the dry, windy conditions. They're getting help from the Massachusetts Forest Fire Control and Forest Division.
Gloucester Fire Chief Eric Smith said this fire will likely need a few more days of work.
"Right now it’s just a lot of effort, resources and frankly a big waste of water, but it’s what you’ve got to do to put it out," Chief Smith said.
No injuries have been reported. Chief Smith said it was human action that sparked the fire, like a cigarette, for example. He urged people to be more careful, especially this time of year.
People in the area should call 911 if they see flames near their homes that firefighters may have missed.
Gloucester and the surrounding areas are under severe drought conditions, according to the latest data from the U.S. Drought Monitor.
