Outdoor fire ban in Lincoln until at least Nov. 15

The purple to red areas on this map show the density if fires since October 1, while the red dots indicate fire locations since November 1 (click to enlarge).

As drought conditions spread across Massachusetts and the wildfire risk continues to grow, Lincoln Fire Chief Brian Young is prohibiting any outdoor fires at least until Friday, Nov. 15.

“We are facing historically low rainfall, bright and breezy weather, and bone-dry fuel sources mean that any outdoor fire will quickly grow out of control,” he said.

Burning yard waste is already prohibited across Massachusetts through January 15 and year-round in some communities under the Open Burning regulation. This new order additionally restricts the outdoor use of fire pits, chimineas, candles, cooking/heating equipment, and other ignition sources under the Massachusetts Comprehensive Fire Safety Code, which grants fire officials the authority to prohibit any and all open flames and other ignition sources under certain hazardous conditions, including extreme drought.

All of Massachusetts, including Lincoln, is facing an unprecedented fall wildfire season. Statewide, fires in October rose 1,200% above the historical average, and the 133 fires reported in the first week of November represent more than six times the average for the entire month. Almost all of these fires start with human activity and can be prevented by limiting outdoor activities that involve open flames, sparks and embers, hot engines or gasoline from power equipment, and other ignition sources.

Months without meaningful rainfall, abundant dead leaves and vegetation, bright sunshine, and gusty winds make the current and expected weather conditions ripe for a wildfire in every city and town in Massachusetts. At the same time, static water sources like lakes and ponds are supplying less water and water pressure to extinguish these fires. Because about 45% of Massachusetts homes are in or near wooded areas, almost any significant wildfire will threaten residential areas.

Even discarded ashes from an indoor fireplace or wood-burning stove can ignite 12-24 hours later when winds pick up the following day. All indoor ashes should be disposed of properly, wetted down in a metal bin with a cover.