Wildfire Worries Come Closer

Above, images of the Populatic fire courtesy of Medway Fire Department.

In the dark hours of Sunday morning, just after 3 am, the Franklin
Fire Department reported that they responded to a report of a brush
fire on Populatic Road near the Medway-Millis line.

Franklin asked for mutual aid and eventually some 70 firefighters
from 10+ communities, including Medway, took part in the hours-long effort to get the
flames under control. It eventually consumed about a dozen acres,
according to a report posted by WCVB.

While the fall season usually produces at most a few dozen wild
fires, this year the total has reportedly topped 300 across the
state, straining many fire departments.

On top of 'natural' fires that occur due to lightning strikes or,
rarely, spontaneous combustion arson has also surfaced as a concern.
Last weekend a fire in Milford was blamed on arson and the alleged
perpetrator was captured. However, in his court appearance, Devonte
Johnson, 28, asserted
that he was homeless, living in the woods, and started the fire
through a cooking accident.

In Medway, a fire on Granite Street on Nov. 9 in the western part of
the town, has also been blamed on a possible arsonist seen driving
from the location but as yet not identified or captured.

Franklin fire also dealt with at least one other small brush fire on
Sunday.