North Shore Brush Fire Alert After Man Hospitalized With Burns

IPSWICH, MA — An apparently planned brush fire that grew out of control amid Monday's dry weather sent a North Shore man to the hospital with burns to his fingers and legs.

Ipswich Fire Chief Paul Parisi said crews responded to reports of a fire on Mill Road Monday morning where they found a pile of brush on fire that was extending into the nearby woods.

Parisi said a man in his 60s was treated for the burns at the scene and then transported to a Boston trauma center.

The man had a permit for the brush pile fire.

The Essex County Fire Chief's Association listed Monday's "Fire Danger" level as high.

Under a high fire danger, fires will start easily and unattended brush and campfires are "likely to escape."

"Fires spread rapidly and short-distance spotting is possible," the Association said. "Fires may become serious and their control difficult unless they are attacked successfully while small."

Residents are cautioned to avoid outdoor fires, or be vigilant while managing them, during warm, dry spring days before the growing season takes hold.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)