Central Mass Braces for Wild Fires
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
The Warning is for northern Connecticut, Massachusetts, and all of Rhode Island except Block Island, and extremely low humidity and high winds gusting to 30 MPH are keeping local departments on their toes. Worcester should be mindful of the threat of fire.
Low humidity and high winds across the central region are keeping local departments on their toes, and Worcester should be mindful of the threat of fire.
According to the Fire Department’s Deputy Fire Chief, John Sullivan, Worcester is at a high risk for wildfires due to sunny weather, a mild spring, and extra debris on the ground, and it’s hard to say when conditions will improve.
Sullivan said, “We’re in a high risk time right now, especially when the winds pick up. A small fire can become large very quick.”
The Worcester Fire Department and the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) are urging residents to be mindful of outdoor activities that could easily spark brushfires and to clear excess debris if they live near wooded areas.
“A number of unusual weather events have occurred and led up to this. The October snow, tornados… There’s a lot of debris on the ground and there has been little snow cover. It’s causing a perfect storm for wild fires,” said SJ Port, DCR spokesperson.
Bad Consequences of the Beautiful Weather
Following a recent fire at Crow Hill, Sullivan says that the Commonwealth is in a unique position. Vegetation isn’t green yet, and there isn’t much moisture in the ground.
“The risk of brushfires in the Commonwealth and the Worcester vicinity has been higher and earlier this year given the lack of precipitation. At this point when it’s not green yet, the brush areas are ripe for brush fires,” Sullivan said. “Brush from the winter that’s on the ground now is usually under snow. Normally the vegetation would be wet, even though it’s dead.”
While Sullivan explained that New England’s risk will not be as great as that in the Western part of the country, it’s hard to say whether things will improve.
“It’s hard to say, but right now the risk is very high for us,” he said. Due to the moisture in the air in New England, Sullivan doesn’t expect conditions to get terrible, but is urging precautions. “I can’t say just because we had a mild winter it’s going to continue.”
“The vegetation hasn’t bloomed yet. It’s not green. When the vegetation is green, it has a less chance of catching and sustaining a fire,” he said.
When will it change?
New England has notoriously unpredictable weather, but Sullivan says that he’s hoping spring leaves and blossoms will help reduce the risk.
“In the next several weeks, the vegetation will bloom, and buds and leaves will continue the usual cycle,” he said. “We’ll be in less of a high hazard, but right now we’re at a high risk.”
Taking Precautions
The Fire Department issued a safety bulletin through the city manager’s office, advising residents to be mindful of their surroundings.
“We’ve advised people to be very careful with their cigarettes, barbecues, whatever,” he said. “We’re asking people who boarder a wooded area, to cut back the brush 30 feet from each structure and to get rid of the brush through the [Department of Public Works] drop-off program so that if there is a brush fire that impedes on your property line that your structures won’t be in the line of fire.”
“It’s just an alert. Be mindful of your surroundings.”
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