Dear Chiefs:
As you know, fire departments are battling major wildland fires across Massachusetts and weather conditions make more of these fires likely in the days to come. Almost all of these fires start with human activity and almost all of them are preventable.
Given the current and expected weather conditions, the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts’ Board of Directors strongly recommends that all our members temporarily deny all fire permit requests and work with municipal officials to impose outdoor fire bans in every city and town in Massachusetts at least through Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. This includes fires associated with fire pits, chimineas, outdoor fireplaces, and cooking and heating equipment that are not specifically covered under 310 CMR 7.07, the Open Burning regulation.
Many local fire chiefs have already adopted this practice in light of ongoing fires in and around their cities and towns. This is a wise decision. The number and nature of these incidents pose a grave risk to our personnel and the communities we serve. Beyond the direct hazard posed by an out-of-control wildland fire, every firefighter battling a preventable outdoor fire is a firefighter who cannot respond to an unrelated structure fire, motor vehicle crash, medical call, or other emergency.
Thank you for your consideration as we confront this unprecedented fire season together.
Sincerely,
| Chief Michael D. Kelleher, President Foxborough Fire Department Chief David LeBlanc, Director – District 1 Harwich Fire Department Chief Scott F. Duffey, Director – District 2 Rockland Fire Department Chief Richard K. Arruda, Director – District 3 Dartmouth Fire Department Chief Timothy F. Bailey, Jr., Director – District 4 Walpole Fire Department Chief Alan E. Dionne, Director – District 5 Salem Fire Department Chief Steele McCurdy, Director – District 6 Littleton Fire Department Chief Stephen M. Coleman, Jr., Director – District 7 Auburn Fire Department | Chief David C. Hurlbut, Jr., Director – District 8 Sterling Fire Department Chief James R. Young Jr., Director – District 9 Orange Fire Department Chief Michael H. Spanknebel, Director – District 10 Hadley Fire Department Chief William J. Bernat, Jr., Director – District 11 Palmer Fire Department Chief Craig A. Pedercini, Director – District 12 Williamstown Fire Department Chief Keith Stark, Director – District 13 Weymouth Fire Department Chief Jason Ferschke, Director – District 14 Natick Fire Department Chief Robert Valentine, Director – District 15 Groveland Fire Department |