SPRINGFIELD - Numerous brush fires were reported throughout Western Massachusetts Thursday, and officials warned that the combination of dry conditions, large amounts of branches on the ground and the recent warm temperatures has increased the fire danger significantly.
The National Weather Service issued an advisory for an elevated fire risk for Thursday and Friday. Wind gusts of up to 20 mph forecast for Friday will only compound the problem.
Brush fires were reported along the Springfield, East Longmeadow line, and in Holyoke, Whately, Hatfield and Hadley.
In an area of Northampton and Hatfield off Coles Meadow Road, a brush fire went through about 3 acres of land before firefighters could gain control.
It took firefighters from Northampton, Hatfield, Whately and the state Forestry Team about an hour to put it out.
The fire started out as a controlled burn by the property owner but it quickly spread out of control, resulting in a call to the fire department.
In Springfield Wednesday night, firefighters had to contend with 11 separate brush fires within a 75-minute span in an area between Brandon Avenue and Boston Road near Five Mile Pond. The fires were believed to be intentionally set, according to Dennis Leger, aide to Fire Commissioner Joseph Conant.
S.J. Port, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Conservation and Recreation, said there have been more than 70 brush fires reported in Massachusetts since January, a number that is unusual for this time of year.
Brush fires are common in the region, but usually later in the spring, she said.
“We’re about a month to six weeks ahead of schedule,” she said.
The conditions this year make for a “perfect storm” for brush fires.
The unusual storms of 2011, including the October snowfall, downed large amounts of tree limbs and branches, and the relatively snow-less winter means all the brush has dried out, she said.
Add to that equation the recent warm streak where temperatures have been in the high 70s and early 80s, “and you have conditions ripe for brush fires,” she said
Dry brush on the ground is fuel for brush fires, and the amount of it this year means fires that start have the potential to spread quicker and burn bigger, she said.