Attleboro Firefighters Ready For 2021 Brush Fire Season

NORTH ATTLEBORO, MA - Firefighters have been busy this month in the area, with multiple brushfire blazes in Norton, Mansfield, and Attleboro that have gotten beyond control of homeowners. Seeing as the burning season ends on May 1st, many residents are eager to rid their yards of brush, unattended fires and strong winds can lead to devastating consequences.

In order to burn, residents must have a burn permit and are only allowed to burn between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. , but that didn't stop a 49% increase last year in unauthorized burning. 2020 also saw nearly 5,900 brush fires across the state, almost double the amount from 2019. Multiple brush fires can also tax local departments of resources, requiring aid from neighboring towns and off duty officers. State Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey recommended prevention as the best method of fighting brush fires and, "...people should call immediately if a fire gets out of control. Winds can fan the flames and fire can spread faster than a person can run."

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