Multiple Agencies Respond to Great Barrington Wildfire
A helicopter ferries water from Ski Butternut on Tuesday.
According to media reports, the slow-moving fire has burned close to 100 acres, sending smoke across South County, and could last into the winter.
Numerous local and state agencies are on the scene with a command center set up at the fairgrounds, and say there is currently no danger to the public. A helicopter with a bucket is being used to dump water on the blaze from the water sources at nearby Ski Butternut. The fire has been deemed the "Butternut Fire."
The state has been under a red flag warning for weeks because of the unusually dry conditions. The most recent update from the National Weather Service has extended the red flag warning until 6 p.m. on Saturday.
The low humidity, gusty winds and dry fuel has made much of the wooded areas a tinderbox. Some 500 fires are burning across the state.
The state averages 15 wildfires in October; this year it was 200, according to the state Department of Fire Services. Of these fires, 100 were reported over the last seven days of October, and preliminary information indicated that all of them started with human activity.
In November, the number jumped from average of 20 to more than 350 — and the month isn't over.
The department reports that less than an inch of rain has fallen in the past month, nearly 4 inches below normal, and at least 8 inches below normal since August.
"Massachusetts is experiencing critical drought conditions that are fueling unprecedented and destructive wildfires across the state," said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper in a statement. "Climate change is reshaping our region’s weather patterns, resulting in warmer and drier fall and winter seasons. Water conservation is more important than ever. We urge municipalities, residents, and businesses — including those with private wells — to help us reduce stress on our water systems. We need to work together to ensure we have enough clean drinking water, protect wildlife habitats, and maintain effective fire control. Every small effort counts."
More than 450 fires have burned more than 1,500 acres since Oct. 1, including two ongoing fires in Middleton, and air quality continues to be affected in many communities.
As of early Tuesday, the department reports about 37 active wildfires across the state. Hundreds of wildfires have broken out across the state since Oct. 1, burning more land than Massachusetts usually sees in an entire year. As firefighting efforts demand significant water resources, state officials say it's crucial for residents to practice aggressive indoor water conservation to maintain sufficient supply and pressure in public water systems.
"About 200 cities and towns have implemented local bans on any outdoor fires under Section 10.10.2 of the State Fire Code," said State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine. "We're reminding all residents to follow the state and municipal guidance on fire protection because in the current drought conditions any outdoor fire is likely to catch, spread, and threaten people and property. Every firefighter battling a preventable wildfire is one who can’t respond to a house fire, car crash, or medical emergency."
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