PITTSFIELD, Mass. – The Pittsfield Fire Department says certain conditions and yard debris can make the risk of a fire higher.
What You Need To Know
- Certain conditions and yard debris can make a fire risk higher
- With dry conditions and no rain, a fire may easily start
- Fallen leaves can help spread a fire
- People should be wary when using a fire outside for cooking around Halloween decorations
“There’s always concerns. It’s obviously been a couple of weeks since we have had and significant rain fall, and with fall, now the leaves coming down," Capt. Rob Leary said. "It's adding to more significant risk of fire spread and with everything drying out, higher chances of something getting going and getting further out of control.”
The department says they recently had to put out a lawnmower fire, which was fueled by dried leaves.
“Lawnmower did catch fire and because of the dry leaves conditions and a little bit of wind, it did spread from the grass on over to the leaves in a wooded area and was getting into some of the brush and debris out there,” Leary said.
Not only are the leaves a concern, but Leary said people should be careful when they are cooking outside using a fire around Halloween decorations.
“It’s always great to add that eerie feeling and that’s scary this time of year, but to use it accordingly. Some of the lighter-weight material, the hay, the brush that may be used, is a good way for fire spread and readily burnable material that can happen at this time of year,” Leary said.