Gov. Healey urges water conservation during Massachusetts wildfires

Bay Staters should conserve water whenever possible and avoid burning anything outdoors amid an “unprecedented” wildfire season, public safety officials and Gov. Maura Healey warned Tuesday.

Joined by state and local firefighting leaders, Healey called on the public to take precautions to mitigate a wildfire season that has exploded due to an extended drought and periods of high winds.

Massachusetts has logged hundreds of wildland fires this fall, representing a 1,200 percent increase over October 2023, Healey said. More fires continue to break out into November, and officials warned the outlook will worsen the longer the state does not experience rain.

“Now is not the time to burn leaves. Now is not the time to go outside and light a fire out back and sit around one of our stoves. It’s just not that time,” Healey said. “My ask to the public is that you do everything you can to minimize the risks, to protect our communities, to conserve water, and to support our firefighters.”

David Celino, chief fire warden at the Department of Conservation and Recreation, said the fires are all “human caused” because there has been no lightning system in the area in October or November.

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