Brush fire at The Bogs caused by fireworks

Mar 23, 2016

Mattapoisett firefighters quickly extinguished a brush fire at The Bogs on Acushnet Road Wednesday evening caused by an illegal bottle rocket.

Kate Souza, who lives two houses down from the Buzzards Bay Coalition property was walking by and said, "There's a fire on the bog, we should call it in."

The fire was small at the point but had spread to 50 by 200 feet by the time the firefighters arrived on the scene, according to Fire Chief Andrew Murray. They knocked it down and secured the site in 35 minutes, he said.

Mattapoisett Police also responded to the scene and found a man with a fire extinguisher trying to put out the blaze. Murray said the man was lighting fireworks on the site.

The chief stressed that fireworks are illegal unless operated by licensed individuals in possession of a permit.

Those with legal permits to burn are also cautioned to be careful during this dry season.

"People have to be careful with their open air permitted fires, especially on windy days," said Murray.