An Attleboro man, aged 72, is facing arson charges after police allege that he intentionally set a slew of brush fires in the Massachusetts town. Gerard Genest of Brown Street was arrested following an investigation into fires that occurred at various locations, including the Attleboro Elks Lodge and the Manchester Reservoir. Officials have stated that the fires were set intentionally, impacting areas under the stewardship of the Attleboro Wastewater Department and the Attleboro Animal Shelter as well, according to 7NEWS.
Genest's arrest occurred during a traffic stop on Saturday night, after officials had gathered surveillance video evidence. It was a part of an investigative response to brush fires that had erupted across Attleboro last Tuesday. CBS Boston has indicated that despite being taken into custody, the specifics on the charges against Genest have yet to be fully disclosed.
The arrested man is expected to be arraigned Monday in the Attleboro District Court, as per details from 7NEWS.
These fires come at a time when Massachusetts is wrestling with extreme drought conditions, leading to heightened vulnerability to brush fires. A red flag warning has been issued repeatedly over recent weeks, with the majority of the state grappling with some form of drought designation. CBS Boston reported that nearly 70% of the state is experiencing "severe drought," and rainfall shortages range between 6-9 inches below average in areas of southern New England since the beginning of September.
Gusty winds and parched land have turned Massachusetts into a kindling box, allowing fires to swiftly spread and consume hundreds of acres. This spate of blazes includes one allegedly set by a Dorchester man earlier this month in Milford. As stated by CBS Boston, both Boston and Worcester are on track to potentially log their driest falls on record if current conditions persist. These back-to-back incidents starkly underline the tinderbox nature of the region's landscape and the critical need for vigilance amidst ongoing drought conditions.
