...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
THURSDAY EVENING...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ALBANY HAS ISSUED A FIRE WEATHER
WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
THURSDAY EVENING FOR ALL OF EAST CENTRAL NEW YORK AND ADJACENT WESTERN
NEW ENGLAND.
A COLD FRONT WILL PASS ACROSS THE REGION LATE WEDNESDAY WITH
LIMITED SHOWER ACTIVITY. IN THE WAKE OF THIS FRONT...DRIER AIR AND
INCREASED NORTHERLY WINDS WILL DEVELOP THURSDAY AFTERNOON. WITH AVERAGE
RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES BETWEEN 15 AND 25 PERCENT AND WIND GUSTS
IN EXCESS OF 20 MPH THURSDAY AFTERNOON...THE POTENTIAL FOR FIRE
WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL INCREASE.
A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE FORECAST TO OCCUR. LISTEN FOR LATER FORECASTS AND POSSIBLE
RED FLAG WARNINGS.
BGM
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Monday, April 21, 2008
Early end called to burning season
By Amy Carr, Berkshire Eagle Staff
Article Last Updated: 04/21/2008 04:28:33 AM EDT
Officials have declared an early end to burning season, following a series of brush fires, one of which scorched more than 200 acres over the weekend.
The largest blaze began Saturday at 122 Silver St. in Lanesborough when burning yard waste coupled with dry, windy conditions caused a brush fire that evolved into a forest fire that stretched almost two miles.
The incident sparked the decision to halt burning season, which officially ends April 30.
"Until we get rain, there will be no more burning," said Lanesborough Fire Chief Charles Durfee, who worked with more than 120 firefighters from three states to battle the blaze, which was 80 percent contained last night. "This is the biggest brush fire we've had in over 20 years. A Department of Conservation and Recreation guy told me yesterday that 375 acres were burned in the whole state yesterday, and 200 of them were in Lanesborough."
Four brush fires in Pittsfield Saturday have prompted the city to stop issuing burning permits. The fire department said yesterday the ban will persist on a day-to-day basis until weather conditions improve.
The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation is
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asking local municipalities across the commonwealth to stop issuing open burning permits immediately. Burning season typically extends until the end of April, but this year, warm, dry and moderately windy weather, coupled with dry forest fuel, has resulted in a high fire danger throughout the state.
The DCR also is urging residents to be extremely careful with cigarette smoking and disposal of cigarettes, campfires, and cooking over fires of any sort, which can lead to brush fires.
Yesterday, small brush fires were reported in Pittsfield and Adams, while New York crews worked to battle a 3,000-acre brush fire in Minnewaska State Park on the Shawangunk Ridge in Ulster County.
According to the DCR, 189 fires throughout Massachusetts burned more than 375 acres Saturday, some threatening nearby private homes and property.
Durfee said Lanesborough residents were fortunate to have winds blowing north over the weekend.
"It was a huge blessing to have the wind blowing up hill," he said yesterday, standing outside the Silver Street residence. "You can see a house nearby this one and the wind took it right up the hill into open space."
Maragret Carnevale, DCR district fire patrolman for Berkshire County, said brush fires in open space can be beneficial.
"Fire is a tool they use across the U.S. to clean up different areas," she said. "(The Lanesborough) area will be greener. The underbrush will be knocked down and add to the soil so big trees can be healthier. So, it's not all a bad thing."
To reach Amy Carr: acarr@berkshireeagle.com, (413) 496-6233.
Article Last Updated: 04/21/2008 04:28:33 AM EDT
Officials have declared an early end to burning season, following a series of brush fires, one of which scorched more than 200 acres over the weekend.
The largest blaze began Saturday at 122 Silver St. in Lanesborough when burning yard waste coupled with dry, windy conditions caused a brush fire that evolved into a forest fire that stretched almost two miles.
The incident sparked the decision to halt burning season, which officially ends April 30.
"Until we get rain, there will be no more burning," said Lanesborough Fire Chief Charles Durfee, who worked with more than 120 firefighters from three states to battle the blaze, which was 80 percent contained last night. "This is the biggest brush fire we've had in over 20 years. A Department of Conservation and Recreation guy told me yesterday that 375 acres were burned in the whole state yesterday, and 200 of them were in Lanesborough."
Four brush fires in Pittsfield Saturday have prompted the city to stop issuing burning permits. The fire department said yesterday the ban will persist on a day-to-day basis until weather conditions improve.
The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation is
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Advertisement
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
asking local municipalities across the commonwealth to stop issuing open burning permits immediately. Burning season typically extends until the end of April, but this year, warm, dry and moderately windy weather, coupled with dry forest fuel, has resulted in a high fire danger throughout the state.
The DCR also is urging residents to be extremely careful with cigarette smoking and disposal of cigarettes, campfires, and cooking over fires of any sort, which can lead to brush fires.
Yesterday, small brush fires were reported in Pittsfield and Adams, while New York crews worked to battle a 3,000-acre brush fire in Minnewaska State Park on the Shawangunk Ridge in Ulster County.
According to the DCR, 189 fires throughout Massachusetts burned more than 375 acres Saturday, some threatening nearby private homes and property.
Durfee said Lanesborough residents were fortunate to have winds blowing north over the weekend.
"It was a huge blessing to have the wind blowing up hill," he said yesterday, standing outside the Silver Street residence. "You can see a house nearby this one and the wind took it right up the hill into open space."
Maragret Carnevale, DCR district fire patrolman for Berkshire County, said brush fires in open space can be beneficial.
"Fire is a tool they use across the U.S. to clean up different areas," she said. "(The Lanesborough) area will be greener. The underbrush will be knocked down and add to the soil so big trees can be healthier. So, it's not all a bad thing."
To reach Amy Carr: acarr@berkshireeagle.com, (413) 496-6233.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Fires burn Lanesborough forest
By Scott Stafford, Berkshire Eagle Staff
Article Last Updated: 04/20/2008 04:45:54 AM EDT
Click photo to enlargeSmoke from the forest fires in Lanesborough yesterday could be seen in the mountains north of...«1»Sunday, April 20
LANESBOROUGH — An out-of-control brush fire in Lanesborough turned into a forest fire yesterday that spread north from Silver Street to scorch more than 300 acres as it headed toward Brodie Mountain Road.
The brush fire, which was reported at about 11:30 a.m., took more than 120 firefighters and 14 fire departments, along with the Department of Conservation and Recreation and burned into the night.
By 7:20 p.m. the firefighters had pulled out of the woods for the night, said Lanesborough Fire Chief Charles Durfee. The crews would be back in by 6 a.m. today to walk the perimeter of the burn area, cut down affected trees, and check on "hot spots," he added.
"I'm not going to put guys up in the woods at night," he said. "Too much risk of injury."
He said that there were no structures at risk from the fire, and that if it were left burning all night, there still shouldn't be any buildings in its path.
Durfee said he wanted to be in and out of the burn area no later than 10 a.m. today.
The U.S. National Weather Service was forecasting winds at 6 to 10 miles per hour, traveling from the southeast last night and today.
The blaze started at
122 Silver St. and was one of a spate of brush fires that were reported across Berkshire County yesterday as attempts to burn yard waste in dry, windy conditions went awry.
"(The resident) was burning brush when the wind came up, and off it went," said Durfee from the command center in the driveway of the house where it started.
By 12:30 p.m., it had "gone up the hill and had grown to a fire line about one-and-a-half miles wide," he said.
By that time, after more than 100 acres had been burned, five neighboring fire departments had responded to calls for mutual aid, and more than 30 firefighters worked in shifts to knock down the flames.
Because the fire was moving through an area with no roads, ATVs and other four-wheelers were being used to haul tanks of water to the fire line, with firefighters using hand cranks to pump the water into the blaze and rakes and chain saws to remove fuel from the fire's path.
By 5 p.m., seven more fire companies had responded to calls for help, with the number of firefighters swelling to more than 50, and a Massachusetts State Police helicopter was lending support as an eye in the sky.
The flames were moving through the Lanesborough woods near the Hancock town line and close enough to Jiminy Peak to cause concern.
Brian Fairbank, president and CEO of the mountain resort, said they mobilized 10 workers with hoses attached to the snowmaking water system in case the fire changed direction.
"We asked the Hancock Fire Department if they wanted help, and they said yes," Fairbank said from his post at the summit. "We're up here, and we're ready, but it doesn't seem to be heading this way. It looks like it's about 500 to 600 yards from here, but we can't see any intense smoke coming this way."
Throughout the county, brush fires were spreading out of control, four of them in Pittsfield, at least one in Hinsdale and another in Becket.
"I would say just about every town in the county has either their own brush fire or was sending mutual aid to other towns," said state Trooper Michael O'Neil from the state police barracks in Cheshire.
"The (police scanner) was going wild," he said. "Turns out today was a bad day to burn brush — just put water on it, put it out, go inside and have a beer or something. Call it lessons learned."
In Pittsfield, Deputy Fire Chief Mark Cancilla said that fires can spread quickly in dry conditions with wind.
And according to state regulations, it is illegal to burn yard waste within 75 feet of a structure.
"The best thing to do if you're burning brush is to have a charged hose nearby and to stay with the fire," he said.
In dry conditions, he added, it is also a good idea to use the hose to wet down the area surrounding the fire.
Article Last Updated: 04/20/2008 04:45:54 AM EDT
Click photo to enlargeSmoke from the forest fires in Lanesborough yesterday could be seen in the mountains north of...«1»Sunday, April 20
LANESBOROUGH — An out-of-control brush fire in Lanesborough turned into a forest fire yesterday that spread north from Silver Street to scorch more than 300 acres as it headed toward Brodie Mountain Road.
The brush fire, which was reported at about 11:30 a.m., took more than 120 firefighters and 14 fire departments, along with the Department of Conservation and Recreation and burned into the night.
By 7:20 p.m. the firefighters had pulled out of the woods for the night, said Lanesborough Fire Chief Charles Durfee. The crews would be back in by 6 a.m. today to walk the perimeter of the burn area, cut down affected trees, and check on "hot spots," he added.
"I'm not going to put guys up in the woods at night," he said. "Too much risk of injury."
He said that there were no structures at risk from the fire, and that if it were left burning all night, there still shouldn't be any buildings in its path.
Durfee said he wanted to be in and out of the burn area no later than 10 a.m. today.
The U.S. National Weather Service was forecasting winds at 6 to 10 miles per hour, traveling from the southeast last night and today.
The blaze started at
122 Silver St. and was one of a spate of brush fires that were reported across Berkshire County yesterday as attempts to burn yard waste in dry, windy conditions went awry.
"(The resident) was burning brush when the wind came up, and off it went," said Durfee from the command center in the driveway of the house where it started.
By 12:30 p.m., it had "gone up the hill and had grown to a fire line about one-and-a-half miles wide," he said.
By that time, after more than 100 acres had been burned, five neighboring fire departments had responded to calls for mutual aid, and more than 30 firefighters worked in shifts to knock down the flames.
Because the fire was moving through an area with no roads, ATVs and other four-wheelers were being used to haul tanks of water to the fire line, with firefighters using hand cranks to pump the water into the blaze and rakes and chain saws to remove fuel from the fire's path.
By 5 p.m., seven more fire companies had responded to calls for help, with the number of firefighters swelling to more than 50, and a Massachusetts State Police helicopter was lending support as an eye in the sky.
The flames were moving through the Lanesborough woods near the Hancock town line and close enough to Jiminy Peak to cause concern.
Brian Fairbank, president and CEO of the mountain resort, said they mobilized 10 workers with hoses attached to the snowmaking water system in case the fire changed direction.
"We asked the Hancock Fire Department if they wanted help, and they said yes," Fairbank said from his post at the summit. "We're up here, and we're ready, but it doesn't seem to be heading this way. It looks like it's about 500 to 600 yards from here, but we can't see any intense smoke coming this way."
Throughout the county, brush fires were spreading out of control, four of them in Pittsfield, at least one in Hinsdale and another in Becket.
"I would say just about every town in the county has either their own brush fire or was sending mutual aid to other towns," said state Trooper Michael O'Neil from the state police barracks in Cheshire.
"The (police scanner) was going wild," he said. "Turns out today was a bad day to burn brush — just put water on it, put it out, go inside and have a beer or something. Call it lessons learned."
In Pittsfield, Deputy Fire Chief Mark Cancilla said that fires can spread quickly in dry conditions with wind.
And according to state regulations, it is illegal to burn yard waste within 75 feet of a structure.
"The best thing to do if you're burning brush is to have a charged hose nearby and to stay with the fire," he said.
In dry conditions, he added, it is also a good idea to use the hose to wet down the area surrounding the fire.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
State Meeting - Sunrday, April 27, West Boylston
To: MC/VFA Delegates, Alternates, Members
From: E-Board
Subj: State Meeting - Sunrday, April 27, West Boylston
The next State Meeting will held on Sunday April 27, 2008 at the American Legion in West Boylston. It will begin at 10:00 A.M.
Our guest speaker will be the Director of the Mass. Fire Academy, Ed Walker.
Lunch will be available on site for $5.00 provided by the American Legion. Please RSVP to the MCVFA Office in order to have a correct count for attendance and lunch.
There will be an executive board meeting prior to the regular meeting, starting at 08:30 A.M.
Directions:
COMING FROM INTERSTATE 290W: take Exit 23N (Rt. 140) in Boylston. Follow 140 N approx. 2 mi. You will cross Rt. 70. Go straight on 140 thru 1 set of lights, continue by the reservoir, this becomes Temple St. Cross the railroad tracks. Next street on left is Maple. From Maple St. the sign says Industrial Park approx. 1 mi. Where road forks at Shrewsbury St. bear left and follow approx. 3/4 mi. Take left onto Hartwell St., American Legion is on left once you cross over the railroad bridge.
COMING FROM MASS PIKE E: Take Auburn Exit which is I/S 290E. This will take you thru downtown Worcester to the I/S 290 & 190 split at Exit 19. Take I/S 190 N approx. 3 mi. to Exit 4. At lights at bottom of ramp go left towards W. Boylston. At IGA on left take Rt. 12N (W. Boylston St.). Go approx. 1/2 mi. and you will come to lights at Woodland St. Take a right at lights then an immediate left onto Pierce St. Follow Pierce across Worcester St., take a right onto Maple St. and follow directions above.
COMING FROM I190 SOUTH: Take I190 to Exit 4 and follow directions above
From: E-Board
Subj: State Meeting - Sunrday, April 27, West Boylston
The next State Meeting will held on Sunday April 27, 2008 at the American Legion in West Boylston. It will begin at 10:00 A.M.
Our guest speaker will be the Director of the Mass. Fire Academy, Ed Walker.
Lunch will be available on site for $5.00 provided by the American Legion. Please RSVP to the MCVFA Office in order to have a correct count for attendance and lunch.
There will be an executive board meeting prior to the regular meeting, starting at 08:30 A.M.
Directions:
COMING FROM INTERSTATE 290W: take Exit 23N (Rt. 140) in Boylston. Follow 140 N approx. 2 mi. You will cross Rt. 70. Go straight on 140 thru 1 set of lights, continue by the reservoir, this becomes Temple St. Cross the railroad tracks. Next street on left is Maple. From Maple St. the sign says Industrial Park approx. 1 mi. Where road forks at Shrewsbury St. bear left and follow approx. 3/4 mi. Take left onto Hartwell St., American Legion is on left once you cross over the railroad bridge.
COMING FROM MASS PIKE E: Take Auburn Exit which is I/S 290E. This will take you thru downtown Worcester to the I/S 290 & 190 split at Exit 19. Take I/S 190 N approx. 3 mi. to Exit 4. At lights at bottom of ramp go left towards W. Boylston. At IGA on left take Rt. 12N (W. Boylston St.). Go approx. 1/2 mi. and you will come to lights at Woodland St. Take a right at lights then an immediate left onto Pierce St. Follow Pierce across Worcester St., take a right onto Maple St. and follow directions above.
COMING FROM I190 SOUTH: Take I190 to Exit 4 and follow directions above
Friday, April 11, 2008
Applications for Texas A&M Fire School Grants due by April 15
Applications for the Texas A&M Fire School grants will be accepted only until April 15, 2008. There are four scholarships, so please get your applications in by the close date. For more information, see the 2008 Texas A&M Fire School Grant page.
For more information, see the 2008 Texas A&M Fire School Grant page.
For more information, see the 2008 Texas A&M Fire School Grant page.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
MCVFA Region 5 meeting
On Thursday,April 17,2008 at 7 PM an MCVFA Region 5 meeting will be held at the Hinsdale Fire Department in Hinsdale,MA. MCVFA has recently been awarded a SAFER grant in the amount of $291,600 to be used for statewide recruitment and retention. There will a brief overview of the intended use of these monies and discussions on the available and the needed resources for volunteer emergency services.
Following the meeting there will be a special presentation. Please plan on attending or sending a department representative.
Please call (413)664-6281 or email vpregion5@gmail.comso that we can have a head count for refreshments.
Following the meeting there will be a special presentation. Please plan on attending or sending a department representative.
Please call (413)664-6281 or email vpregion5@gmail.comso that we can have a head count for refreshments.
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