Woman killed in outdoor fire in Millbury

A woman died in an outdoor fire at a Millbury encampment Saturday evening and crews were still battling a large overnight wildfire in Salem on Sunday as dry and windy conditions have increased the risk of wildfires in southern New England.

When state police responded to the small brush fire in Millbury on Saturday around 8:20 p.m., a trooper found the woman dead in the encampment where the fire was believed to have started. The fire has been extinguished and the cause is under investigation. Police noted that Massachusetts was under a red flag warning on Saturday, meaning any outdoor fire could spread quickly and be difficult to extinguish.

Another fire broke out in the woods near a Walmart store in Salem on Saturday evening. Flames were visible and smoke had engulfed the area. According to Boston25News, the fire chief estimated that 40 to 60 hectares of forest had burned. According to a dispatcher, the fire was still active on Sunday afternoon.

There were no reports of injuries or evacuations.

“This is an ongoing incident,” the Lynn Fire Department posted in an alert on Facebook. “Smoke from the fire will be prominent in the area throughout the day. Small fires in the fire area will continue to burn while our members work.”

A red flag warning was in effect Sunday for southern New Hampshire, where several wildfires broke out the day before.

The National Weather Service warned that the combination of drought and wind gusts up to 55 mph was expected to create critical fire conditions that could lead to rapid fire growth in dead and dry vegetation.

“Please use extreme caution when disposing of cigarettes,” the Lynn Fire Department said. “Don’t throw them on the ground or off a veranda or balcony. Soak them or put them in water. We can all do our part to keep our city safe.”