By Dakota Antelman — Dakota@theconcordbridge.org
A brush fire burned close to a Westford Road home Saturday morning, drawing emergency responders just days after officials warned of dangerous fire conditions.
Firefighters jumped into action when a homeowner called 911 around 10 a.m. after spotting smoke outside the window.
Concord Fire Department Captain Sean Murphy said crews opened a hydrant and poured “massive water on the fire.” Crews contained the flames within 10 minutes and stopped the fire roughly 25 feet from the home.
Speaking at the scene, Murphy said the cause of the fire remained under investigation.
Officials in Concord and across the state have sounded the alarm in recent weeks as dry and windy weather has increased the risk of brush fires.
Town Manager Kerry Lafleur said the Concord Fire Department responded to out-of-town wildfires three times in the last week of October.
Two of the three responses happened in Salem, where city officials said a pair of fires burned 179 acres through October 29.
“That’s not something that we typically hear in Massachusetts,” Lafleur told the Select Board on November 4.
Lafleur said fire conditions were “of significant concern.”
One day after her remarks, the Concord Fire Department banned all outdoor burning until conditions improve.
Those restrictions include — but are not limited to — residential yard burning, such as leaves or brush; fire pits and bonfires; and agricultural burns.
Authorities said exceptions must be made in coordination with the Fire Department, including an approved safety plan.
While the risk level remains high, officials also urge Concordians to take extra precautions with grills and other outdoor equipment that might cause sparks or generate flames.
With the smell of smoke lingering in the air on Westford Road Saturday, Murphy said it’s “historically dry” this time of year.
“It’s very dangerous,” he said. “It’s one of those things where, if a brush fire gets away from you, it’s going to be some devastating loss.”
