WAKEFIELD — Breakheart remains closed to the public due to fires that are burning in four separate areas of the reservation totaling 79 acres. The major safety concert at this time is trees falling as the fire has burned out underground root systems, leaving nothing to hold the trees up.
The Wakefield Fire Department continues to play a major role in fighting the Breakheart fires. Wakefield Engine 2 responded to a call for mutual aid to assist Saugus at about 8:45 yesterday morning and remained on the scene until mid-afternoon.
Today at about 7:45 a.m., Wakefield Engine 2 was sent back to the same location off the Wakefield/Saugus line, where Farm Street in Wakefield turns into Main Street in Saugus. That section of the reservation is just one of four areas that are currently burning.
Wakefield Fire Chief Michael Sullivan said that Wakefield firefighters are expected to be there most of today and will likely return tomorrow. While the fire is not really spreading at this time, it will take some time before the fire is completely under control, Sullivan said.
Breakheart remains closed to the public. The primary safety concern, Sullivan stressed, is that the fire is burning the root systems of trees down at least a foot and a half underground. That means that many trees inside the reservation are very unstable and could easily fall over.
Sullivan said that in addition to the aforementioned area of woods near where Farm Street in Wakefield turns into Main Street in Saugus, three other sections of the reservation are also burning. Those include Breakheart Hill and areas around both of the lakes.
In addition to Wakefield and Saugus Fire Departments, other agencies, including the Department of Conservation and Recreation, are also on the scene with trucks and other equipment to fight the fire. This past weekend, the National Guard sent helicopters to dump water on the fire from the air.
Chief Sullivan said that Wakefield Fire will continue to send crews and equipment until they are no longer needed.
