LYNN — Officials believe the brush fires that broke out in the Lynn Woods Wednesday afternoon began under suspicious circumstances, and reminded residents that the state’s Arson Watch Program provides a reward for information leading to the detection or prevention of arson fires.
The four fires, which have been raging for more than 29 hours as of The Item’s press time, have burned through approximately 20 acres of land, according to Lynn Fire Chief Stephen Archer.
“At this time, the fires in Lynn Woods this week have to be considered suspicious in nature, due to the multiple areas of burn. The LFD’s Fire Investigation Unit and the state fire marshal’s office are actively investigating,” Archer said.
Archer said there have been no injuries or risks to homes reported as a result of the fires.
“We’re looking at almost 20 acres of burned areas in total. We’ve got a few active areas of burn right now that we’re looking at. We, along with the state forestry guys have been working on those areas all day today, and we’ll continue to work throughout the day on those areas, and hopefully we’ll be able to get a handle on it and get it contained,” Archer said. “There are no homes threatened right now.”
Archer said that until further notice, the Lynn Woods reservation is closed to the public.
“At the advice of the state fire marshal and the forestry guys, we recommended to the ranger that we close the park and call it off limits to civilians for the time being,” Archer said. “The entire Lynn Woods Reservation is off limits right now.”
Firefighters will monitor the fires through the night. Archer said that given the vast space the fires burned through, firefighters are making “good progress.”
“We’re looking at an extensive area of burn that’s been spreading in some areas, and we’re making really good progress in other areas,” Archer said.
State and local fire departments are still investigating the fires’ cause, said Jake Wark, a spokesman for the Department of Fire Services.
Anthony Cammalleri can be reached at [email protected].
