According to the state Division of Forest and Lands, fire danger is very high across the entire state. Fire fighters were battling brush fires in more than a half-dozen towns yesterday.
“Yesterday was probably the busiest day we’ve so far this spring” says Brad Simpkins, director of Forest and Lands, “and actually one of the busiest days we’ve probably had in the last few years."
Simpkins says those fires were mostly in Southern New Hampshire. One fire in Concord burned around 60 acres in a public park just outside of the city. Another in Nashua consumed a homeowner’s fence and shed before it was brought under control. Fires were also reported in Jaffrey, Andover, Gilmanton, Rochester, Nashua and Sanbornton.
“Those are the ones I can think of off the top of my head,” said Simpkins
This time of year tends to be the busiest for wild-fires, as the snowmelt exposes blowdown on the forest floor, and since the leaves aren’t yet out the sun can easily penetrate to dry the brush.
On top of those this spring has been unusually dry.
“The forecast for the rest of this week is really basically warm, sunny and dry right through at least the first half of the weekend, so we expect this whole week we’ll be running fires each day,” says Simpkins.
Simpkins says no-one should be burning open fires this week, and advises homeowners to clear leaves and brush away from their homes.
