SALEM, Mass. — It’s a tinderbox that’s been accumulating for the last 15 years --- Saturday night it exploded. Within 12 hours, some 80 acres of woodland around Spring Pond along the Salem/Lynn line had burned.
“I don’t anticipate this fire is going to be out anytime soon,” said Salem Fire Chief Alan Dionne. “We do have it somewhat contained.”
Area residents woke to a pervasive haze that failed to dissipate, despite the lack of flames. Dionne said that’s because the fire is smoldering in the thick underbrush -- and could reignite at any time.
“There is a lot of fuel on the ground,” he said. “The trees, the branches -- all that type of stuff. “Right now, it’s at the ground level. If we can stay ahead of it then we won’t need evacuations. I’m not saying that won’t happen. But right now, I don’t think so.”
The underbrush is so dry in Salem because the area is suffering a severe deficit of rain. Normally, Salem sees four to five inches of rain in October. So far this month, about 20% of that has fallen.
Paula Dolan lives in Peabody, on the other side of the fire. She watched with trepidation yesterday as the fire spread.
“We just had a fire maybe a month ago, the same thing,” she said. “They finally put it out after days. But we worry about our house because every year it seems like something comes up.”
Dionne said the cause of the fire is unknown. But he cautioned Salem residents that the area is under a Red Flag Warning.
“We don’t allow burning of any type in the city of Salem,” he said. “We’re just too urban. So no burning. And stay out of the woods if you can.”
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.
Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW