


State Police are investigating a recent string of “suspicious fires” in Blue Hills Reservation, as officials seek tips from the public about the intentionally set fires.
There have been a number of burns in the park over the past few weeks amid very dry and windy conditions, according to the Friends of the Blue Hills. Under these dry and breezy weather conditions, fire becomes unpredictable and especially dangerous to firefighters.
Massachusetts State Police are now trying to track down who’s setting these hazardous blazes in the reservation south of Boston.
“State Police are investigating several suspicious fires in the area of the Blue Hills Reservation in recent weeks,” a spokesperson for the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services said in a statement on Wednesday.
“We encourage anyone with information on intentionally set fires, whether in the Blue Hills or elsewhere, to contact the State Police Fire & Explosion Investigation Unit at 978-567-3310,” the spokesperson added.
The Friends of the Blue Hills recently posted on social media about the string of fires in the reservation, and also about the high fire risk amid very dry conditions.
“Please take care to properly dispose of cigarette butts and other lighted materials… and if you see something, please call 911 to report it,” the group wrote online.
The Friends of the Blue Hills then posted an “Arson Watch” flyer for a reward up to $5,000 for information about the fires.
“If you see any suspicious activity that might lead to a fire, please report it,” the group posted. “Have you noticed the new burned patches in the Blue Hills?”
Massachusetts firefighters have been battling numerous brush fires in the last month.
“Even a small fire outdoors can grow to dangerous size if it isn’t contained quickly,” the spokesperson for the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services said. “Fires like these can take many firefighters days to extinguish and draw firefighting resources away from the countless other emergencies they’re needed for every day.”
The spokesperson later added, “Finally, about 40% of Massachusetts homes are in or near wooded areas — a fire in that environment can easily threaten people or property.”