With an alarming number of brush and wildland fires burning across the Commonwealth, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has taken a stand alongside fire service leaders to urge residents against engaging in outdoor activities that could start or spread fires. The request follows a series of fires that have scorched hundreds of acres and taxed the state's firefighting resources. "As we confront an unprecedented fall fire season, I'm asking all our residents to protect themselves, their neighbors, and their communities by refraining from any outdoor activities that involve open flames, sparks and embers, or other heat sources," Governor Healey stated.
To combat the spread and ensure the effectiveness of firefighting efforts, the State Fire Marshal's office has swiftly mobilized resources to support local departments and provide mutual aid, thus preventing communities from becoming overwhelmed by these escalating fire events. "The Mobilization Plan coordinates the delivery of firefighting resources across Massachusetts," said State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine. Alongside this, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency remains actively involved in meeting the needs coming from the front lines of the fires.
Local fire chiefs have been advised by the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts to deny any fire-related permit requests and collaborate with municipal officials to enforce outdoor fire bans. This stringent recommendation has been made to safeguard both firefighters engaged in grueling battle against the flames and residents potentially threatened by the conflagration's reach. In the words of Foxborough Fire Chief Michel Kelleher, efforts are being made to curtail incidents that pose "a grave risk to our personnel and the communities we serve."
In recent days, Massachusetts has witnessed 87 fires, four of them newly reported, translating to a troublingly parched and charred landscape. Amongst areas affected are Cain Hill and Middleton Pond, with the latter suffering the largest impact of 188 acres and a current containment of 70%. Officials continue to stress extreme caution in daily activities that might ignite these waiting tinderboxes—anything from lighting up a grill to discarding fireplace ashes. Amid the dangers, residents should stay alert to smoke advisories and health recommendations, especially for those with pre-existing conditions made only worse in the choking plume of a nearby blaze.
