Charlestown wildfire danger persists, fire started by idiot with fireworks

Dry weather, low humidity continues to pose fire threat

By Will Collette

This was yesterday's threat level.
Danger remains today

Saturday saw our area put under the highest level of warning for brushfires with officials urging extreme caution. No rain, low humidity, wind and high temperatures on Saturday combined to make officials put out their highest alert.

Naturally, some clown with fireworks apparently took the opportunity to test the warning last night, setting off a brushfire that consumed about three-quarters of an acre. See map for location.

Charlestown Fire Chief Don Rathbone told Channel 10 News, "It came up near the driveway, but we were able to knock it down. The difficult part was the terrain that it was in." The fire was extinguished at around 10 PM.

Even though the Sunday forecast is for lower winds and temperatures, the ground is still bone dry. There is NO rain in the extended forecast except for a 30% chance of showers Tuesday night. 

The National Weather Service to issue this warning for our area for today:

ELEVATED FIRE WEATHER CONCERNS FOR SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND TODAY...

West winds are expected to not be quite as strong today across southern New England. However, minimum relative humidity values should fall between 25 to 40 percent. The combination of recent dry weather and very dry ground will continue to make conditions favorable for wildfire development today.

Use caution when handling and disposing of ignition sources. Outdoor burning is not recommended.