Officials placed bans on Massachusetts as it faced over 100 brush fires in the last week and an enhanced brushfire risk.
Over 120 brush fires have burned around 450 acres in the state in the last seven days, Jake Wark, the Public Information Officer for the Massachusetts Department of Fire Servic es , told USA TODAY.
The fires come as weather conditions could cause dry foliage, like leaves and dead vegetation, to ignite or fuel existing fires.
“The dry, sunny, breezy weather is great for recreation, but it also means that any outdoor fire will spread quickly and become very difficult to manage,” State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine said in a statement. “We’re seeing preventable fires growing to dangerous sizes and drawing numerous resources, locally and regionally.”
Communities across Massachusetts are at an elevated risk of brush fires, according to the department. The fires could spread to and from residential areas.
The state received some light rain Wednesday, but “outdoor fires will continue to spread and grow,” he said.