BOSTON, Massachusetts: Firefighters in parts of eastern Massachusetts worked to extinguish several brush fires that woke up residents this week.
The National Weather Service said on the social platform X that smoke was trapped near the ground during the morning due to a "surface inversion," which traps cooler air below warmer air. By later in the day, the smoke had largely dispersed.
The state Department of Fire Services said in a statement this week that 18 active brush fires have been reported statewide in the past 24 hours.
A woman died in an outdoor fire at an encampment in Millbury over the weekend.
Weather conditions statewide place all Massachusetts communities at elevated risk of brush fires. State fire officials said dry leaves, dead vegetation, and other fuels are extremely receptive to ignition.
Fire officials reminded residents that open burning is prohibited statewide through January and in many communities year-round. They also urged residents to avoid outdoor cooking and heating and to use caution when using power equipment like lawnmowers and leaf blowers.