Fire Risk High, Burn Permits Temporarily Suspended

A mild winter and early introduction of hot, dry weather is setting the stage for a high-risk fire season in our area.

The National Weather Service and state authorities have issued a red flag alert for high brush fire danger today. The New Hampshire Division of Forests and Lands, Forest Protection Bureau said that it is seeing elevated wildfire danger across a large part of the Granite State's woodlands, almost a month before normal.

Amherst Fire Chief Mark Boynton said that the lack of precipitation this winter and early onset of warm, dry weather has laid the foundation for a bad fire season. His department has already had to deal with early brush fires so far this year.

If the traditional April rainstorms fail to make an appearance, it could create a brush fire season that lasts all summer.

“We could potentially have one of the worst years ever,” said Boynton.

The Amherst Fire Department is not issuing any permits for outside fires until further notice due to the dangerous fire conditions. He said that many residents are looking to burn fallen material from the few storms from last year, but the risk is too high at the moment.

Discarded cigarettes pose some of the greatest risk in these conditions and Bonyton urges the public to be aware of fire safety.

“With the dry grass, all it can take is somebody not disposing of smoking material properly,” he said.

The highest risk times during the year are fall and spring, when there is more dry material on the ground that can potentially catch fire. The spring season usually has had precipitation to help keep moisture in the ground, but that has not happened so far this year.

“The conditions this spring could mirror fall, with not enough snow to make damp conditions,” said Deputy Chief Matt Conley.

Conley said that that is utilizing fire towers and planes today to watch for any signs of fires and illegal burns.