Breakheart Fires Burn 79 Acres, More Helicopter Water Drops Expected

SAUGUS, MA — Recent wildfires have burned at least 79 acres in the Breakheart Reservation in Saugus, the Department of Conservation and Recreation said on Tuesday, continuing to burn now more than a week after they first ignited last Tuesday.

Recent rain has helped. But drought conditions will continue to support the fires unless and until more substantial rainfall arrives in the region, the DCR said. As such, crews are coordinating another round of National Guard helicopter water drops on the fires on Wednesday.

Those drops are due to begin at 11 a.m., according to a town update on Tuesday night, following just a matter of days after a separate round of flights on Sunday. Crews will again use Walsh Field at Wakefield Memorial High School as a base of operations during the flights, the town said.

“Although aviation support provides immediate water delivery to remote sections of the fire, helicopter operations will not fully suppress the fire alone, and (are) considered an added specialized tool for firefighting efforts,” the DCR said in its statement.

Crews arrived at the Breakheart Reservation last week to what Saugus firefighters said were two separate fires within the reservation. That number grew to five fires by the end of last Tuesday night.

Fires have since grown further, with two fires merging and one new fire igniting. The fires were burning at various states of containment as of Tuesday’s DCR update.

Conditions, the DCR said, have been challenging for firefighters. That made recent rain a welcome sight, combining with high humidity to slow fire growth, according to the DCR.

“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,” the DCR said.

With fire responses expected to drag onward, the DCR on Tuesday implemented a temporary ban on all open flame and charcoal fires within DCR properties.

The Breakheart Reservation will remain closed through Wednesday, at which point it is scheduled to reopen with that ban in place.