Firefighters battle additional brush fire near River Road

WESTFORD — With several brush fires plaguing the same section of conservation land since late March, firefighters battled an additional brush fire near the Graniteville Ballfield on River Road earlier this morning.

Local firefighters are on scene with Mass. Department of Conservation and Recreation firefighters.

“Upon arrival, it was discovered that an area of approximately 2 acres had burned,” according to a post on social media from the Westford Police Department.

“Massachusetts DCR Firefighters also responded to assist,” the post read.

This marks an additional brush fire since March 31, where area firefighters have responded brush fires that have affected an approximate 24 acres of land.

Westford Fire Department Deputy Mike Denehy confirmed that the cause of the fires is still under investigation.

The Westford Fire Department and Westford Police Department are seeking information on suspicious activity from the community.

“If they see suspicious people walking in and out of the woods, with a backpack or something just to say something,” Westford Fire Capt. Mark Valcourt told WestfordCAT in a April 22 phone call.

Firefighters are holding a controlled burn to “rid the area of any possible ground cover” that could act as additional fuel for future fires.

“The controlled burn is still being actively managed by firefighters and could result in excess smoke in the area,” wrote WPD. “There is no cause for alarm.”

Mass. DCR did not immediately respond for comment.

Update 4:11 p.m. The article’s featured image was updated to reflect an updated drone image from Monday afternoon. The previous photo was from April 22.  

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