Danvers, North Andover Declare State Of Emergency As 500+ Acres Burn

DANVERS, MA — Five North Shore and Merrimack Valley towns issued a joint local state of emergency on Friday after weeks of brush fires burned more than 500 acres across them and put an extended strain on fire services and equipment.

Danvers, Boxford, Middleton, North Andover and North Reading issued the declaration that the fires and associated smoke pose "a present, reasonable and imminent danger to public health, safety or general welfare of residents or their property, and immediate action is needed to prevent, minimize or mitigate damage."

The declaration notes the smoke impacts, loss of forest stock, the danger of falling trees and the financial burden that fighting the fires places on local departments — potentially opening the door to state and federal relief funding and other financial relief.

"The Department of Fire Services and Department of Conservation have already been extremely helpful in lending resources that we desperately need," Danvers Interim Town Manager Rodney Conley said. "We appreciate the state's continued support during this incredibly difficult time."

Thursday's rain — which measured an inch or more across much of the state — was helpful in dousing some of the ongoing hot spots, but was not enough to put a significant dent into the drought that reached "severe" levels across the North Shore and Merrimack Valley in recent weeks amid the months-long dry spell.

Another bout of showers were expected Friday night, followed by a string of dry and windy days that could provide fertile ground for more brush fire dangers.

Residents are reminded to stay clear of areas affected by recent fires as the windy days enhance the danger of falling trees and branches that could cause injury or death.

"Not only are we facing increased staffing costs due to the time needed to combat these fires, but we have pieces of equipment, like hoses, and rolling stock that have been damaged in the woods and are now out of commission," said Melissa Rodrigues, Town Manager of North Andover. "The state of emergency will aid us in getting things repaired and redeployed in a timely manner so that our firefighters have the resources they need."

The declaration allows cities and towns to deficit spend in the case of a state emergency and stretch those expenses over a three-year period.

(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.)