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This article was published 2 year(s) and 9 month(s) ago
Breakheart Reservation is closed for the third straight day due to fires. (Charlie McKenna)

Breakheart Reservation in Saugus closed for third straight day

Charlie McKenna

August 18, 2022 by Charlie McKenna

SAUGUS — Ongoing wildfires in the Breakheart Reservation forced the Department of Conservation and Recreation to close the park for the third straight day on Thursday.

“Breakheart Reservation in the Town of Saugus has closed to the public due to ongoing wildfires causing heavy smoke and active fires along the paved path,” DCR wrote in a tweet. 

The fires broke out around 5 p.m. Tuesday and have burned through more than 20 acres of the park. The reservation had briefly reopened Wednesday morning before being forced to close again hours later. 

Dry conditions at the reservation likely played a role in the fire’s fast spread, Saugus Fire Capt. Tom Kaminski said. 

“It’s a tinderbox up there,” he said. “It’s been an extremely dry summer.”

While Kaminski cautioned that the origins of the fire remained under investigation, it appears as though multiple fires started “at the same time or near the same time,” leading officials to believe “most likely … someone set the fires,” he said.

“It certainly does look suspicious,” he said. 

Jake Wark, a spokesman for the state Department of Fire Services, said drought conditions facing the region increase the likelihood of a brush fire breaking out.

“The critical drought conditions we’re experiencing mean that fires will start more easily and spread more quickly,” Wark said. “A large brush or wildland fire can take days to contain, presenting safety and health issues for firefighters and tying up resources from across the region.”

Charlie McKenna can be reached at [email protected].

  • Charlie McKenna

    Charlie McKenna was a staff reporter at The Daily Item from June 2022 to February 2024. He primarily covered Saugus, Peabody, and Marblehead.

    View all posts

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