MA Fire, Water Restrictions Extended Amid Expanding 'Severe' Drought

BEVERLY, MA — Dozens of Massachusetts cities and towns have extended and renewed outdoor burning restrictions and requests to limit water consumption as the area of "severe" drought more than doubled across the state in the past week.

According to the updated map that the U.S. Drought Monitor released on Thursday, about 68 percent of Massachusetts is now under "severe" drought conditions — up from 32 percent last week.

A "Red Flag" warning has been issued for all of Massachusetts on Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. because of sunny, very dry and windy conditions. No significant rain is forecast for at least the next six days, according to the National Weather Service.

Massachusetts Fire Marshal Jon Davine called this "unprecedented fall fire season in Massachusetts" during a tour of fire damage in Middleton on Thursday.

"The weather conditions in Massachusetts have left all the fuel sources outdoors bone dry," he said. "Any fire will spread quickly and it will become very difficult to control. It will burn wide and it will burn deep into the ground."

Beverly Fire Chief Peter O'Connor on Thursday joined many area communities in extending the city's ban on all outdoor fires until at least Nov. 22.

"Beverly Firefighters have been working at brush fires all across Essex County," Chief O’Connor said. "Beverly has been fortunate but is not immune to the effects of the dry, windy weather we have been experiencing. We must remain vigilant to prevent fires in our wooded areas."

Statewide, fires rose about 1,200 percent in October compared to the historical average with 133 fires reported across the state in the first week of November — more than six times the average for an entire typical month.

Because 45 percent of Massachusetts homes are near a wooded area, almost any significant fire could threaten residential property, Peabody Fire Chief Jay Dowling said in extending the outdoor burning ban in that city.

"Every firefighter battling a preventable wildfire is one who cannot respond to a house fire, car crash, or medical emergency," Dowling said. "Help us help you. Please use caution and common sense and refrain from any outdoor activity that could cause a fire."

This includes the operation of machinery that could cause a spark and the use of extreme caution even when using propane grills.

"The faster we hear of a fire the better chance we have of safely extinguishing it," Dowling said. "If you see smoke or flames, please call 9-1-1 right away so we can protect you, your neighbors, and our community."

Danvers outdoor water restrictions — typically only in effect from May until September — were reinstated effective immediately last week amid the extended drought and elevated fire danger.

The town said the restrictions are because of low water flow in the Ipswich River, within the reservoir and limited precipitation in recent months, as well as to preserve water necessary to fight any fires that may spark in the coming weeks if the drought persists.

"More frequent water withdrawals are needed to support fire suppression efforts and maintain community safety," town officials said.

The Middleton Fire Department said more than 80 departments, state agencies and individual fire officials responded to the brush fires that consumed more than 200 acres of that town and surrounding communities over the past two weeks.

The department said the fires have largely subsided in that community but warned residents of the risk of going into areas where fires have burned or still may be smoldering underground because of damaged trees that may fall unexpectedly.

A forest ranger in New York was killed by a fallen tree limb in a fire-worn area this past week.

The National Weather Service said that Friday will bring warmer temperatures and strong winds with very low humidity and highs near 56 degrees. It is expected to be dry and sunny with a high of 59 on Saturday and 63 on Sunday.

The next chance of rain appears to be at least a week away on Nov. 21 at the earliest.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)