For immediate release
GEORGETOWN — Chief Matt McKay reports that the Georgetown Fire Department extinguished several brush fires in the Georgetown-Rowley State Forest Tuesday evening and into Wednesday morning.
On Tuesday, Nov. 5, at approximately 4 p.m., Georgetown Fire was dispatched to the Georgetown-Rowley State Forest for reports of a brush fire. The Georgetown Fire Tower confirmed three separate areas of smoke rising from the forest area.
Crews arrived on scene to find three small areas burning in the forest. Fire crews from the State Department of Conservation and Recreation later arrived on the scene and identified a fourth fire in a different area of the forest.
Responding crews were able to knock down all four fires Tuesday evening and were pulled out of the woods once it got dark to ensure firefighter safety.
The four fires were estimated to span about an acre of the forest.
On Wednesday, Nov. 6, at about 4:15 a.m., crews were dispatched back to the forest after a passerby on Interstate 95 reported flames.
Crews arrived on the scene to find that the fire had spread significantly overnight. Crews immediately strengthened the fire lines to help stop the spread of fire.
The fire was contained at about 8 a.m.
Overnight, the fire is estimated to have grown to a ten-acre span of the forest.
Crews will remain on the scene throughout Wednesday to continue wetting the area and prevent further spread due to red flag conditions across the state.
Chief Matt McKay and the Georgetown Fire Department ask the public to stay out of the forest while crews operate.
The Groveland, West Newbury, Newbury, Boxford and Ipswich Fire Departments provided mutual aid during the fires. Rehab Five also responded on scene to provide food and drink to responding crews.
Georgetown Fire would like to remind residents that a red flag warning is in effect. This warning means that dry, warm, and windy conditions create the potential for “extreme fire behavior.” While the warning is in effect, outdoor burning is prohibited.
Residents are asked to refrain from starting outdoor flames, or from conducting any work in which a spark may be created.
