Crews fought brush fires in Chichester, Hopkinton, Northwood and other communities across the capital region on Thursday as officials said the state was facing a high risk of wildfires for the first time this season, reflecting dry conditions throughout much of the country.
The blaze in Chichester was near Hutchinson Road, which was almost closed while crews fought the fire all afternoon.
Thursday’s designation as a “high” fire danger day by the New Hampshire Division of Forest & Lands comes as the entire state is in a mild-to-medium drought. Last summer the driest in 130 years of record-keeping and fall and winter saw average or slightly below average precipitation, which failed to help the situation. No rain is expected in the state until early next week.
Nationally, the period of January through March was the driest on record. Conditions are much worse in the Southeast, which has seen a serious, long-term drought. Georgia declared a state of emergency on Wednesday due to widespread fires, and in Florida, even the huge Everglades swamp is ablaze.
This is expected to be a hot year in much of the world due to a projected record El Nino in the southeastern Pacific Ocean.
To keep homes safe in case of nearby wildfires, Firewise USA recommends clearing roofs and gutters of dead leaves and other debris; repairing loose shingles and broken windows; clearing vegetation from under outdoor propane tanks; and keeping lawns mowed and clear of dead plant and tree material.
Additional tips can be found at the Firewise USA website.
