'Dead And Burnt Trees' Cleared From North Shore Woods Fire Site

LYNN, MA — The Lynn Woods Reservation remained closed to the public on Wednesday a week after four fires began to burn 86 acres and filled the North Shore with the smell and haze of smoke.

Lynn fire officials said on Wednesday that while the fire is "under control" hot spots remain and crews are working to remove "dead and burnt trees" that pose the danger of injury or igniting another fire if they fall.

Officials said state Department of Conservation and and Recreation crews are using interactive mapping software to mark these locations so they maintain awareness of areas that need attention and tree removal.

All outdoor open flame fires —including campfires and charcoal cookouts — were banned across Massachusetts state parks on Tuesday as crews battled 38 fires totaling 188 acres statewide over the past seven days amid the extreme drought conditions.

It is the first such statewide ban since 2016. There is an exception for small portable propane grills at campgrounds and recreation areas where grilling is permitted.

The ban was effective immediately and will be in place "until further notice," according to the Department of Conservation and Recreation.

DCR Chief Fire Warden David Celino said that as of Tuesday there were 12 active fires in the state, including the Breakheart Reservation fire in Saugus and Wakefield, the four fires that combined into one and burned 86 acres of the Lynn Woods Reservation, one that burned 19 acres and threatened homes in Rockport and one that burned 25 acres in Marlborough.

Celino said even when those fires are 100 percent "contained" they continue to smolder beneath the ground and remain a threat until there is an extended rain period that is much more substantial than the state experienced the past two days. He said ground fires can extend more than 12 inches below the surface.

Lynn fire, which worked with several neighboring departments and had extra crews on throughout the week, said as of Monday they used about 5,000 feet of hose and 40,000 gallons of water to fight the stubborn flames. More than 120 firefighters participated in containment efforts in the Lynn fire alone over the past week.

North Shore residents from Swampscott and Salem, to Beverly and Danvers, reported the smell and sight of smoke in the air this weekend amid the hot, dry and windy conditions.

Officials said the Lynn Woods Reservation will be evaluated throughout the week to determine when it can be reopened to the public.

(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.)