The IFD came to the aid of Georgetown firefighters Wednesday, battling a large and stubborn brushfire along I-95.
Four firefighters used the Department’s UTV and brushfire equipment for several hours on the blaze, which burned 10 acres on the Rowley line. The crew drafted water from a small pond in the fire area, and used forestry lines and hand tools to knock the flames down.
Chief Paul Parisi, who worked alongside Lieutenant Brett Emerson and Firefighters Matt Lemire and Michael Bonaiuto, said the operation was made more challenging by the fact the fire was burning deep underground.
“It was burning at least 12 inches into the peat and into the roots of trees“, Parisi said. “We were putting water on the fire in one place and smoke and sparks were popping up 6 feet away. It’s definitely traveling underground, which will make for a very stubborn fire to extinguish until we get either substantial rain or snow cover.”
The region is experiencing severe drought as a result of a long dry spell. Chief Parisi reminds Ipswich residents that a burning ban was issued November 4th. All outside fires— including for cooking, camping, recreation and ceremonial purposes — are prohibited.