With a record number of brush fires burning in Massachusetts, Gov. Maura Healey pleaded with the public to do whatever they could to prevent more from breaking out. Hear from her and get a closer look at the weather pattern driving the fires.
More than a dozen brush fires are still burning across Massachusetts. This as the entire state is under a Red Flag Warning once again.
The persistent drought conditions are also a major concern.
At a press conference Middleton on Tuesday morning, state officials, including the governor, begged the public to take precautions to prevent further fires.
“A lot of these fires that we’re seeing, they’re caused by human behavior. Now is not the time to burn leaves. Now is not the time to go outside and light a fire out back, and sit around one of our stoves. It’s just not that time," Gov. Maura Healey said.
The state is experiencing a record-breaking autumn fire season. In October, there was a 1200% increase compared to the previous six-year average. Fire officials said as of Monday there have been 261 fires logged so far in November. For perspective, for the entire month of November, the state typically sees less than 10 fires.
"Any outdoor fire is likely to spread and spread and spread quickly and be very difficult to extinguish," Healey stressed, asking the public to avoid any outdoor burning until drought conditions improve.
She also asked the public to conserve water, taking steps like taking shorter showers, running dishwashers and washing machines only at full capacity and fixing any plumbing leaks immediately. The water is needed to fight fires, Healey said.
🔥🚩A Red Flag Warning will be in effect today due to
— NWS Boston (@NWSBoston) November 12, 2024
windy and dry conditions.
🚫Avoid outdoor burning
🚫 Avoid any activities that may produce a spark
⚠ Use caution with disposal of igniters (cigarettes)#MAwx #CTwx #RIwx pic.twitter.com/TRy1yMvIbm
Dave Celino, chief fire warden for the state Department of Conservation and Recreation, said many of the fires that have popped up have been contained to just one or two acres, thanks to the efforts of local firefighters. However, the larger fires, including the ones burning in Lynn Woods and at Middleton Pond, have become so large that they will need a "season-ending event" - such as heavy rain, snow or frost, to be contained.
“We have about 13 or 14 fires out there that went beyond containment and they’re going to stay active now until we get a season-ending event that brings a lot of precipitation or snow or finally frost in the ground. So these fires are not going to go out," he warned.
He also expressed concerns about firefighter fatigue and asked the public to follow those common-sense fire prevention measures to keep the situation as contained as possible.
Three firefighters have been injured battling brush fires in Massachusetts, officials noted.
The impacts from the fires can be seen across the state. In some areas of the North Shore, brush fires are melting the siding right off of homes. In Lynn, it's impacting hikers, bikers and runners, who in the latest update from the Lynn Fire Department were told to steer clear of the Lynn Woods Reservation, where more than 400 acres are burning.
In fact, the brush fire has been burning for quite some time, initially beginning Saturday. Officials say the fire continues to burn underground. Trees are still falling, and many roads and paths are still blocked.
Even those who live farther out from the fires are impacted by the smoke, which creates poor air quality.
Firefighters working in Lynn say this is the largest fire they've had to fight here in almost 30 years.
