Worst Fire Conditions in 20 Years, Chief Says

For the first time all year had to respond to a brush fire on Thursday night.

According to Hopkinton Fire Chief Ken Clark firefighters spent about two hours dealing with a fire that appeared to be out, but was sparking up in a different area.

With conditions as dry as they have been this year the soil dries out which can allow a fire to smolder underground and spread to different areas even though the fire appears to be out on the surface.

“The conditions this year are ripe for a serious fire,” Clark said. “Our chances for a serious fire are probably the worst they’ve been in 20 years.”

The National Weather Service in Taunton has issued a red flag fire warning for Hopkinton and most of Middlesex County. 

"Above normal temperatures, very low relative humidity and winds gusting between 25 and 30 miles per hour and little to no rain over the last two weeks will result in critical fire weather conditions this afternoon," the release said.

According to Clark the town issues about 1,000 burning permits each year that allow people to burn small brush and branches in their yard in safe conditions.

“When we issue a permit to someone, they have to read a list of rules and sign at the bottom,” Clark said. “They have to call back on the day they want to burn in their yard and we will tell them if they can or cannot.”

The decision does not belong to local officials alone though, the Department of Environmental Protection has the ultimate call to allow burning, if they approve burning for the day the local fire district which is based in Ashland makes a decision based on area conditions. If they approve it the town can still make the decision to not allow burning if conditions are not appropriate in Hopkinton.

“Today is a red flag day, so that means the winds are high and it’s dry, there is no burning allowed today,” Clark said.

Clark also said that generally people follow the rules and the Fire Department hasn’t had to revoke a permit in a couple years, but that doesn’t mean it won’t happen this year.

“There are a lot of factors and the dominos are all lining up,” Clark said. “We need to be careful.”