2024 has been an unprecedented year for wildfires in Massachusetts. In October, the state experienced an increase in fires, with 196 reported—ten times the usual amount. The situation worsened in November, as more than 400 brush fires occurred, 20 times more than average. In these past two months, around 4,000 acres have burned, surpassing the combined totals from 2022 and 2023.
The intense wildfire activity can largely be attributed to a months-long drought, compounded by the accumulation of dry, fallen leaves. In Lynn, for example, 472 acres of woods were scorched, significantly impacting air quality across the greater Boston area.
The drought has also profoundly affected the state’s water resources, with reservoirs and groundwater supplies significantly depleted. Water levels have fallen to troubling lows. While recent rains have offered some relief, much of the state remains in a rain deficit, with many areas needing about 10 inches more rainfall to return to typical conditions.
The worst of the drought may be over, but this pattern of extreme wildfires, prolonged droughts, and shifting weather patterns indicates the impacts of climate change. These impacts are only expected to continue in the coming years as a result of the climate crisis.
Indresh Chandel