Fire Burns Several Acres Near Golf Course

Firefighters have returned to the woods near Beverly Golf and Tennis Club on Thursday after nearly five acres of woods there burned on Wednesday afternoon.

The fire was first reported at 3:45 p.m. on Wednesday and firefighters worked to extinguish the fire, which burned 4.8 acres, until sunset at about 7 p.m., said Beverly Fire Chief Paul Cotter.

Seven firefighters returned to the woods on Thursday to check for "hot spots," Cotter said.

A sprinkler was left running in the woods all night in the area of the fire, Cotter said.

"They are back there checking for hot spots," Cotter said on Thursday morning.

The fire did not extend to any buildings or involve and property.

The area that burned was near the access road that connects County Way Extension, off Elliott Street in Ryal Side, to Apple Village on Manor Road off Route 128. The fire was near holes 2 and 16 of the golf course.

"There were some pretty high flames and a pretty big area," Cotter said. "It we did not cut it off it would have been bigger."

There was no water supply in the area, so a hose had to be extended about 1,500 feet from the corner of County Way Extension and Cleveland Road to the fire.

Beverly firefighters got help from a Massachusetts State Police helicopter that was in the area. Cotter said the helicopter was able to map the full extent of the fire and relay it to firefighters on the ground.

"It was great that they came to assist," Cotter said.

It's not clear how the fire started but since there is no ignition source in the area it was likely started either by improper disposal of smoking materials or it was intentional.

While Beverly firefighters were tied up for more than three hours, a fire truck from both Danvers and Wenham covered the city.