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Woman dies in open air fire in Millbury
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Woman dies in open air fire in Millbury

A woman died in an outdoor fire at a campground in Millbury on Saturday night, and crews were still battling a large brush fire that broke out overnight in Salem on Sunday as dry and windy conditions in southern New England increased the risk of wildfire.

When state police responded to a small brush fire in Millbury around 8:20 p.m. Saturday, an officer found the woman dead at the camp where the fire was thought to have started. The fire has been extinguished and the cause is being investigated. Massachusetts was under a red flag warning on Saturday, meaning any fire that breaks out in the open could spread quickly and be difficult to extinguish, police said.

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

No injuries or evacuations were reported.

“This is an ongoing incident,” the Lynn Fire Department posted an alert on Facebook. “Smoke from the fire will be seen all over the neighborhood throughout the day. “As our members work, small spot fires in the burn area will continue to burn,” he said.

A red flag warning was in place Sunday for southern New Hampshire, where multiple brush fires broke out the previous day.

The combination of dryness and 35 mph winds is expected to create critical fire weather conditions that will lead to the potential for rapid fire growth in dead and dry vegetation, the National Weather Service warned.

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