Subscribe to our mailing list and consider following WestfordCAT on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram for daily updates from Westford’s hometown source for news.
REGION — Westford’s Fire Department has been called to aid in a wildfire response at Breakheart Reservation in Lynn and Saugus.
Dunstable, Tyngsboro, Billerica, Chelmsford and Bedford firefighters were deployed, along with Saugus Fire Department to extinguish multiple fires at the 652 acre reservation.
The reservation is one of many areas in the state experiencing heightened fire risk due to ongoing drought conditions. Investigators note these fires are ‘suspicious,’ noting a lack of lightning in the area.
The fires, which began on Aug. 16, have forced the reservation to close until at least Wednesday, according to the Department of Conservation and Recreation. The fire has impacted over 75 acres of land, according to the Westford Fire Department.
The department is continuing to urge caution among residents when using an open flame outdoors. Multiple brush fires have been extinguished in Westford alone, with over half a dozen in East Boston Camps and others scattered throughout town.
“With the current drought conditions, and low humidity fires are quickly spreading and burning deeper in to the ground. This requires firefighters to have to manually dig in to the ground to access hot spots as the fires are burning along the roots. Please use caution with any open flames outdoors until our drought status improves,” wrote the Westford Fire Department on social media.
Local journalism is vital to our communities. As other publications shift focus toward regional journalism, WestfordCAT continues to provide high-quality hyperlocal reporting to our town, free for everyone to read. So — we have a small favor to ask. Every contribution, no matter how big or small, helps us sustain our journalism and keep our community informed. Please consider supporting WestfordCAT for as little as $1 on PayPal.
