LYNN — Nearly a month after the fire that started on Nov. 8 at the Lynn Woods Reservation, Park Ranger Dan Small said he estimates the clean-up cost may exceed $100,000 to restore more than 420 acres damaged by the flames.
Small has worked at Lynn Woods for 25 years and is currently the only worker on the reservation. His job typically includes outdoor maintenance and trailblazing, but recently has been “100%” focused on the aftermath of the weeks-long fire, he said.
“This is by far, far, far, exponentially worse than anything we’ve ever had,” Small said.
The two major safety concerns following the fire are the dead, standing trees, and the trees and debris along the trials, Small said. He estimates it will take him a year to clear the trails by himself, but clearing the trees requires trained professionals with specialized equipment.
The Lynn Woods Reservation deals with a small fire approximately every other year and damages between eight to 10 trees that he cuts down himself, Small said. However, after this fire, Small has already identified 70 to 80 trees that need to be cut down.
“It’s not something I can do myself. This is going to take help from the outside,” he said.
Small said he asks the community to continue to avoid any burned areas in the reservation until further notice.
“We were really concerned about the fires and the public safety threat that they posed. We’re very glad that has passed and now we are absolutely focused on the clean up,” Mayor Jared Nicholson said.
Ox Pasture Road and the trails to the Walnut Street side of Pennybrook Road recently reopened, but anyone utilizing these areas are advised to do so with caution and awareness of their surroundings.
It is important for residents to follow the guidance from professionals, such as the Fire Department, Small, and Urban Forestry Fellow Erica Holm, when entering the parts of the reservation that are open, Nicholson said.
There is no timeline for when the Lynn Woods Reservation will completely reopen, but Nicholson said there have been conversations to receive money and support from the Commonwealth.
