BRUSHFIRE

North Shore wildfires sent smoke across Massachusetts Monday. WCVB photo

If you walked outside Monday morning, you may have noticed a smokey haze in the air.

Newton wasn’t on fire, but brush fires on the North Shore were so strong they sent smoke billowing down to the MetroWest region.

Those brush fires—in Salem, Middleton and Saugus—engulfed a combined 400 acres of land, WCVB reported.

Mayor Ruthanne Fuller sent an email out to residents just after 10 a.m. alerting the community of the smoke.

Brush fires in Salem and other parts of Massachusetts are causing hazy smoke, including in Newton.

“People in Newton should take precautions by reducing outdoor time, taking more breaks, and doing less intense activities if outdoors,” Fuller wrote. “If you have asthma monitor yourself carefully for symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, or difficulty breathing and have any quick relief asthma medicine readily available.”

The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation also issued a high fire danger rating for Newton (a Class 4 rating), so no burning is allowed and the mayor urged caution in putting out smoking materials.

Monday’s brush fires come after a period of extended dryness across New England. As of Monday night, Newton and most of Eastern Massachusetts are still in a drought area.

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