LYNN — The Fire Department responded to a large brush fire in Lynn Woods burning close to houses in the area of 90 Emerald Dr. Friday afternoon. The fire kept going through the night into Saturday morning and at around 8 a.m. several engines returned to continue working, according to District Fire Chief Joe Zukas.
Units responded a few times during the night as well, he said.
“We got a report of a woods fire, they sent an engine up here to investigate,” said Fire Chief Dan Sullivan Friday afternoon. “They found that there were multiple fires, so we’ve got multiple engines up here.”
The fire bordered Emerald Drive, Cherry Tree Lane, Peach Tree Lane, and South Ridge Circle, according to a Facebook post from the department.
Sullivan said the department struck two alarms for the fire, meaning six engines responded. He said three ladder trucks also responded, and that the state’s forestry unit had multiple members at the site assisting as well.
Zukas said every on-duty Lynn firefighter was working to put the fire out Friday afternoon. Peabody, Salem, Saugus, Marblehead, and Revere units were manning Lynn fire stations as the department battled the fire.
Sullivan said that the department had engines set around the ridges of the area to protect nearby homes.
“This is actually a good thing,” he said, pointing to the ground burning. “We’re burning up the ground cover so if later on tonight it flares up, it won’t have anything to burn and it will keep these houses protected.”
A resident living in the area, Robert Lemieux, said he noticed one brush fire in the area before quickly seeing another.
“Two spots? A little suspicious, wouldn’t you think?” he said. “And that one came fast this way, because of the wind.”
Zukas said the wind was causing the fire to spread throughout the afternoon and into the evening. He said fire units would be there working until dark, before reassessing Saturday morning.
Zukas added that if the fire starts to approach any houses during the night, units will return immediately.
Sullivan said there were no injuries as far as he was aware, and that the cause of the fire has not been determined.
