650+. If you need assistance, please Learn About DCR| Mass.gov. In-depth news coverage of the Greater Boston Area. Looking ahead, Massachusetts needs several months of above-normal rainfall to completely come out of this drought and increase the groundwater level. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the official website. Annual Fact Sheets summarize fires and fire deaths in Massachusetts on a single page. The Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) is used to determine forest fire potential. Stay up-to-date with important news developments, delivered right to your inbox. The heat and dryness have led to more wildfires this season 159 in July alone, according to the Department of Conservation and Recreation. According to Celino, most wildland fires in the US are less than 10 acres in size. The air was rated unhealthy for sensitive groups Monday night in parts of Springfield, Chicopee, Ware, and Greenfield. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. If people are using a lot of water for grass, its not enough to put out a fire, says Rao. At this time, it is believed to be smoke from the wildfires on the West Coast. That's Herald reporter Rick Sobey contributed to this report. The task forces are drawn from multiple cities and towns in fire districts outside the emergency area. Parts of the state were in a heat emergency on Thursday and Friday, with heat indexes of over 100 degrees. While the cause of the fire is not yet known, investigators said it's not thought to be suspicious. FRAMINGHAM, MA A fire broke out in the bedroom of a Waverly Street duplex over the weekend, but fire officials quickly responded and were able to limit the damage. Members from Group 3, E3, E1, E5, R1, L3, C2, FS3 and A3 responded to the scene, where they were able to knock down the fire. The Fire Department has been getting calls about smoke in the area from different parts of Holden, the department tweeted. This page is located more than 3 levels deep within a topic. Shortly before 5:50 p.m., the Medford Firefighters Local 1032 union tweeted that the fire department and mutual aid companies were battling a four-alarm fire near the intersection of Allston and Prescott streets. The smoke is a result of record-shattering wildfires out west. Brush Fires Send Smoke Traveling Across Parts of State, Breakheart Reservation in Saugus Closes Through Sunday Amid Brush Fires, Our Teams Deserve Better': Violence at Mass. A .mass.gov website belongs to an official government organization in Massachusetts. It will take some time, says Rao. Governor Charlie Baker last week had called in the National Guard to help battle the Rockport blaze. Grilling, smoking, out-of-season open burning, and illegal fireworks can also cause wildfires, according to DCF. Annual Suffolk County Data. The remaining region, the Cape, now stands somewhere between a Level 2 and Level 3 drought, with task force members split on whether to change its previous significant level designation. Massachusetts is no stranger to wildland fires. These fires can easily spread to a home. WebThe wildland fires within Breakheart Reservation were ignited on Wednesday, August 17, 2022, as five individual fires. An environmental advocacy group argues that the aerial fire retardant used to combat wildfires is leeching into waterways and causing WebMassachusetts Fire Incident Reporting System (MFIRS) Statistics Fires or explosions that harm people or damage property must be reported to the Division of Fire Safety. The fire started at 2:45 a.m. on Holyoke Street. To help manage the danger, officials are asking to public to take "common-sense" measures, including to carefully extinguish any open flames and dispose of any hot charcoal or smoking materials. The feedback will only be used for improving the website. On Monday in Massachusetts, officials with the state Division of Fisheries & Wildlife also said their agency has been getting calls about wildfire smoke.. The drought has made fighting the fires complicated, and all fires within the drought-stricken part of the state are expected to continue burning until there is enough rain to help extinguish them, officials said. If you need assistance, please contact the Department of Fire Services. Seven new large fires were reported Sunday, bringing the total number of wildfires raging in the United States to 91, according to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC). Celino said the latest rain improved the outlook but only slightly. determine if problems are getting better or worse. Massachusetts drought worsens with 97 wildfires, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Massachusetts drought worsens with 97 wildfires seen in August, Massachusetts weather forecast: After nasty rainy Sunday, an unsettled week with showers, Massachusetts weather outlook: After rain, unsettled week with below normal temps, Runners heading into cooler temps, light headwind on marathon day, After record-breaking heat in Boston, temps will drop to near perfect for Boston Marathon participants, Nearly 26 inches of rain: A really unprecedented event in parts of South Florida, MassGOP, MassDems chairs meet for the first time, New Hampshire mayor eyes Gov. A huge fire broke out Friday at noon in an apartment building on Veterans Road in Winthrop. Follow Boston.com on Instagram (Opens in a New Tab), Follow Boston.com on Twitter (Opens in a New Tab), Like Boston.com on Facebook (Opens in a New Tab), EPA: Machine gun range could harm Cape Cod drinking water. The Blackhawk Helicopter from the Massachusetts Air National Guard utilized a 600 gallon bucket in coordination with DCR Fire staff, who provided air to ground direction for more than 60 point drops. A heat advisory remains in effect until 8pm Friday. According to the BC Wildfire Service The state has had 816 fires this year, totaling 1300 acres. What it doesn't affect is ground fuel burning that's ongoing," he said. If you need assistance, please contact the Department of Fire Services. Travis Andersen can be reached at travis.andersen@globe.com. Please let us know how we can improve this page. We just dont want wells drying up or having other issues where they cant access the water they need for their daily use, Rao said. The most burned at the Breakheart Reservation and the Lynn Woods Reservation. Nearly 100 wildfires have been recorded by the Department of Conservation and Recreation for the month of August, and it appears nothing short of a major storm will #ada-button-frame { The National Fire Protection Association uses NFIRS data in many of their analyses. The Hubbardston Fire Department confirmed this as well tweeting, We have responded to numerous reports of smoke in the area. Published May 17, 2021 at 3:48 PM EDT. Background Map; Topographic; Aerial; Aerial, labeled Filter - control incident types MEDFORD, MA Firefighters were battling a four-alarm fire Sunday evening in Medford. So theyre labor intensive. She previously worked as the news editor for the Daily Item. HOLDEN (CBS) -- The smell of smoke and the sight of haze hung in the air in Massachusetts due to wildfires burning thousands of miles away. The Department of Conservation and Recreation also announced Tuesday in a press release that effective immediately and until further notice, a temporary ban on all open flame and charcoal fires has been put in place across the Massachusetts State Park System in an effort to prevent wildfires. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. We have investigated and have found no fires in town. May 1, 2023 at 5:40 p.m. NEW YORK Regulators seized troubled First Republic Bank early Monday, making it the second-largest bank failure in U.S. history. It gives the resources a chance to get after these fires without the concern of new starts.. While this will assist firefighters in their ongoing efforts, the minimal amounts of rain will have little effect on ground fuel conditions in the soils. Correspondent Jeremy C. Fox contributed reporting. Hot and humid conditions will continue through the weekend. The previous record for that day, set on Aug. 4, 1926, was 96 degrees. all, 39 fire departments from two counties participated in the fire, over 130 pieces of apparatus moved, and over 450 firefighters were involved. For fire data requests or copies of older reports, contact the Fire Data Unit at (978) 567-3382. According to the states Department of Fire Services (DFS), about 40 percent of Massachusetts homes are in areas at risk of brush and wildland fires. . BOSTON, MA July 20: The skyline around Boston from Dorchester Heights as seen through the haze created by the wildfires in the west on July 20, 2021 in South Boston, BOSTON, MA. So far Massachusetts has seen 849 wildfires in 2022 covering 1,440 acres, Celino said. People in sensitive groups, the DEP site says, should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion; take more breaks and keep quick relief medicine handy. Year to date, there have been 849 fires affecting 1,440 acres. DFS encourages fire departments to report all incidents. It is also a powerful injury prevention tool for health educators and policy makers. On Wednesday Saugus Fire Chief Thomas D'Eon would only see there was an "active investigation" into the cause. Filter - control incident types displayed on map. A wildfire burns above the Beluga Point parking area near Anchorage on July 19, 2016. Fires or explosions that harm people or damage property must, . The parts of the state Monday afternoon where the air quality was listed as unhealthy, or unhealthy for those with health challenges, included areas of Chelmsford, Chicopee, Haverhill, Lynn, North Adams, Pittsfield, and Worcester, according to the DEP website. April 21, 2023 at 8:24 p.m. Small portable propane grills are still allowed at campgrounds and recreation areas where grilling is permitted.. Contained fires will still give off smoke and can burn very hot in the center, Celino said. To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com. All rights reserved, Multiple Mass. According to DCR, so far in 2023, there have been 240 wildfires in Massachusetts over almost 250 acres. Settings - change map background and toggle additional layers. Power equipment and vehicles, MEMA officials warned, can get very hot and cause dry grass to catch fire. 4-alarm #fire in West Medford down the block from our house. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection confirmed the news on Monday afternoon via Twitter. BOSTON Below is an update regarding the wildland fires within the Department of Conservation and Recreations (DCR) Breakheart Reservation in the Town of Saugus: The wildland fires within Breakheart Reservation were ignited on Wednesday, August 17, 2022, as five individual fires. Amid Push to Expand East-West Rail, Mass. Thats a success story, in that we had a whole neighborhood that was threatened if that fire broke out of containment last week. WebMassachusetts Wildfire and Smoke Map | thegardnernews.com Data Central Fire and Smoke Hazard Mapping System: Fire and Smoke Fire and Smoke Fire data is updated The high humidity and precipitation are lowering ignition potential and will drastically slow fire growth over the next two days. The data on fire incident reports is analyzed and categorized in many ways. Furthermore, the public is advised that the park will remain closed through Wednesday, August 24, 2022, due to ongoing fire operations, and in consideration of public safety and the safety of the first responders managing the incident. As fires continue to burn in Massachusetts, an uptick in smoke is leading officials to issue warnings to the public. Medford firefighters responded to a multi-alarm fire that broke out in a neighborhood in the Massachusetts city on Sunday. The recent string of hot temperatures and dry conditions have provided multiple fuels for wildland fires to burn in Massachusetts. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. On Wednesday Saugus Fire Chief Thomas D'Eon would only see there was an "active investigation" into the cause. Please do not include personal or contact information. Medford firefighters responded to a multi-alarm fire that broke out in a neighborhood in the Massachusetts city on Sunday.Shortly before 5:50 p.m., the Medford Firefighters Local 1032 union tweeted that the fire department and mutual aid companies were battling a four-alarm fire near the intersection of Allston and Prescott streets.Video and photos shared with NewsCenter 5 show large flames and heavy smoke in a residential area.The firefighters' union did not state whether anyone has been injured by the fire.First responders are asking people to avoid the area while they work to extinguish the flames. All fires within the drought stricken areas are experiencing extended operations, and can be expected to continue until significant rainfall events occur. Kelly Clarkson's Home Collection Is Up to 74% Off During Way Day Deals, The Best Wayfair Way Day Deals 2023 Starting at $30. Mass.gov is a registered service mark of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. U.S. Drought Monitor. An official website of the United States government. Several Massachusetts fire departments tweeted about the air issues Monday, including the Holden Fire Department. Shortly before 5:50 Its going to be a few months for sure.. Thats the strategy, he said. April 28, 2023. This week, without rain Eastern Massachusetts KBDI value has been at a 600. NO WORD ON ANY INJURIE. Gayla Cawley is the City Hall and transportation reporter for the Boston Herald. He said crews were grateful for the rains that fell on the state Monday and Tuesday. Ongoing #Drought conditions are raising the fire risk across the state. Honestly, we dont know how much longer the drought will last or how much more severe it will get before it improves, says Rao. What it doesnt affect is ground-fuel burning thats ongoing.. Normally, he said, the spring fire season is busy but things begin to tail off by the end of May or early June, followed by a fairly quiet time for wildfires in July and August. [1] Traditional tactics dont work, we find. Rao said its good to see that supplies are for the most part holding up and extensive outdoor watering restrictions are being put in place by many water suppliers. Although aviation support provides immediate water delivery to remote sections of the fire, helicopter operations will not fully suppress the fire alone, and is considered an added specialized tool for firefighting efforts. Video and photos shared with NewsCenter 5 show large flames and heavy smoke in a residential area. . Medford firefighters responded to a multi-alarm fire that broke out in a neighborhood in the Massachusetts city on Sunday. A rainy Monday helped a bit, but most of Massachusetts has received significantly less precipitation than usual in the past few months, exacerbating the drought that's stifling almost all of the state. #AirQuality Alert: Smoke plume from US & Canadian #wildfires is again causing fine particle levels to elevate into Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range today in all MA counties except Plymouth, Bristol & the Cape & Islands, the DEP tweeted. Fire officials said smoke detectors could have saved their lives. Were seeing it really worsen every week lately. As a brutal drought persists across Massachusetts, environmental experts urge the public to heed local water restrictions amid an uptick in wildfires. Northeast Drought Monitor. Typical fire season in New England is the spring, but with the drought worsening from June through now, the dry conditions have extended the fire risk. "It positively affects ignition potential. Celino said crews are working to obtain 100 percent containment of the blazes. Celino said that in the last seven days, fire crews across the state have responded to 38 wildfires across 188 acres. Fire Data Unit Fax & M-BIRS Reporting Fax. Travis Andersen can be reached at travis.andersen@globe.com. August 21, 2022 10 As fires continue to burn in Massachusetts, an uptick in smoke is leading officials to issue warnings to the public. Graphical Fire Weather Forecast. DCR and its partner agencies continue to urge everyone to use caution and common sense when utilizing any open flame or power equipment that can cause sparks or reach high temperatures outdoors, the department said in a statement.