Photo: Chaiel Schaffel/WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Firefighters worked to contain brush fires on the North Shore and beyond on Monday as hundreds of acres burned.
The National Guard stepped in to put out the blaze after more fires broke out overnight in Salem, Lynn, Middleton, and Canton.
The Department of Conservation and Recreation's Chief Fire Warden, Dave Celino, told WBZ NewsRadio that there were 18 individual new fires across the state in just 24 hours. Over the weekend, there were 46.
"Most of them were small but we have a couple of priorities out there that indicate that the conditions are super dry," said Celino.
He said the lack of rain in October was behind the elevated fire risk.
"In those conditions where we have warmer temperatures in the 70's like we've seen sporadically combined with drying winds, that just creates the perfect condition for easy ignition," said Celino.
As of Monday afternoon, the fire in Salem, near Highland Avenue, torched at least 170 acres sending plumes of thick smoke all the way down to metro Boston. Celino said crews had contained about 50 percent of the blaze. National Guard helicopters dumped 47 bucks, carrying almost 25 thousand gallons of water, onto the fire.
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Fire crews also pointed resources to put out a fire spreading near the reservoir in Middleton. On Monday afternoon the fire had burned about 130 acres. The National Guard was sending assistance to help put out that blaze which was 0 percent contained at the time.
Celino also said a fire in Canton, up against the reservoir pond, was quickly growing. Overnight it went from 4 acres to 32.
Celino urged residents to be aware of how quickly a spark can turn into a rapidly growing fire. He said DCR believes all of the fires were human caused because there hasn't been any lightning systems in the areas.
The DCR has seen a pattern of abandoned camp fires and outdoor burning over the last couple days. Celino wanted residents to be aware of anything that could create a spark in dry grass or leaf litter.
"We've seen a few fires start from folks mowing the lawn and causing a spark," he said. "Part of our plea for the public is for the public to be very very wary of the elevated fire risk messaging out there that any spark out there can cause a new fire," he said.
He said if you plan to mow your lawn this week, try to do it in early morning hours when it's cooler and there's still dew on the ground.
Celino said the elevated fire risk should last throughout the week.
WBZ NewsRadio's Emma Friedman (@EmmaFriedmanWBZ) has more:
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