Brush fire danger remained high in New England Wednesday with another day of high temperatures and no rain in the forecast.
Four separate fires burned in the Georgetown-Rowley State Forest near Interstate 95 Tuesday, where firefighters were first called in around 5 p.m. After battling the flames for hours crews were pulled out at dark for safety, returning Wednesday morning around 4:15 a.m. As of 8 a.m. the fires were mostly contained. About 10 acres burned overnight.
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Georgetown Fire Chief Matt McKay said the small fires merged into one blaze, prompting the department to request additional support through the state's fire mobilization plan. These fires appeared "suspicious in nature."
Brush fires can be difficult to fight, firefighters say, in part because when flames appear extinguished they may still be burning underground.
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"Like everyone in the state, we are facing really stubborn fires," McKay said. "This is going to be burning overnight, which is a hazard. We are pretty close to 95. There is going to be a lot of smoke in the area."
Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation District 4 Fire Warden Karyn Lothrop described the situation as a dangerous game of whack-a-mole, with new fires emerging as others are extinguished.
"Root systems are all actively burning and pulling fire under the ground," Lothrop explained.
The challenge extends beyond surface-level firefighting.
"That leaf litter that's fallen sits on top of one of those, and then that's warm enough for them to catch fire, and then they carry that fire across the surface," Lothrop demonstrated at a hotspot in Canton, where flames reignited despite previous containment efforts.
In October there were about 200 wildfires reported, according to the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services (DFS). The average is 15. Another 70 have been reported since the start of November.
Alex Belote, DCR's fire program coordinator, emphasized human error in many of these incidents: "Almost all of these are human caused. For instance, this one was a campfire that was improperly put out."
Firefighters will continue on until rain provides relief, he said, adding, "We need kind of a long-duration rain event with some serious precipitation to really help put these fires out."
But the opposite conditions were in place through Wednesday evening, through which the National Weather Service had issued a "red flag warning" for Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut, indicating elevated fire risk in the region.
Residents were advised to avoid outdoor burning or activities - like using a lawnmower or leaf-blower - that could cause sparks to set off a larger fire, and to be careful with smoking materials and to properly dispose of any coals or ashes by dousing them with water and storing them in a metal can with a tight-fitting lid.
A Red Flag Warning is in effect for MA, RI, and CT through 6 pm this evening.
— NWS Boston (@NWSBoston) November 6, 2024
🔥Please avoid outdoor burning
🔥 Avoid activities that may produce a spark#MAwx #CTwx #RIwx pic.twitter.com/ERxkfTKLZY
In Massachusetts, open burning is prohibited statewide through January and in many communities year-round. Some towns have taken steps to ban all outdoor burning for the time being.
In Groveland, the fire department has banned all outdoor burning, including in fire pits, chimineas, outdoor fireplaces, and cooking and heating equipment unless it's covered under open burning regulations. Propane grills are still allowed, though fire officials urge caution.
