Merrimack Fire Responds to 5 Brush Fires in 24 Hours

The Merrimack Fire Department is asking the public to use extreme caution after responding to a string of five brush fires in less than 24 hours.

Fire Marshal John Manuele said the fires have been mostly minor, the largest one burning about an acre and a half to two acres of land off Mast Road near the Wastewater Treatment Facility.

Manuele said the cause of that 6 a.m. fire has not been determined, but it occurred near a known party area and numerous beer bottles were found at the scene, so they are looking into the possibility of a small camp fire  that didn't get extinguished properly.

"That was probably the most significant one we've had today," Manuele said.

Manuele said the other fires have been smaller, one burning about a half acre of land and damaging a neighbor's fence at a property where a permitted burn was not extinguished properly and flared back up.

Two others on Nutmeg Lane and Star Drive were sparked by a passing train having brake problems, Manuele said, and the fifth one, on Girard Drive was caused by improper disposal of woodstove ashes.

At this time, because of the extreme fire danger, no burn permits are being issued. Fires can easily flare up even from something you might do regularly usually with no ill effect, like tossing a cigarette on the ground still lit, Manuele said.

"That's part of the issue, we've had all different kinds of fires. We're running the gamut of causes," Manuele said.

Last week the department handled a fire caused by a cigarette that was tossed out of a window on the Everett Turnpike and one that was started by a child playing with matches, he said.

"We're asking the public to be extremely careful," Manuele said. "Conditions are extremely dry and we will not be issuing permits until they improve."

Due to the predicted forecast for the next several days, it likely the danger will not subside until at least the weekend, according to a hazardous weather outlook posted by the National Weather Service.