East Bridgewater Fire Department and Mutual Aid Partners Extinguish Challenging Brush Fire

EAST BRIDGEWATER — The East Bridgewater Fire Department and mutual aid partners extinguished an approximately 1-acre brush fire in difficult terrain on Saturday afternoon. 

This was the second significant brush fire in East Bridgewater in the past week. 

On Saturday, June 13, at approximately 2 p.m., an East Bridgewater Fire Department engine and ambulance were on their way to a medical call when firefighters were dispatched to a report of a fire in a wooded area off Union Street. 

Firefighters found an approximately 1-acre fire burning in the woods about three-quarters of a mile into the woods on a path leading towards Washington Street. 

Firefighters initially had to walk into the area from Union Street and contain the fire using hand tools because accessing the area with forestry trucks was difficult and required more time. Firefighters needed about three hours to extinguish the fire, and had to shuttle about 2,000 gallons of water back and forth using a hydrant by the best access which was on Washington Street. 

Firefighters from Whitman and Hanson provided critical mutual aid at the scene and firefighters from Bridgewater and Hanson handled two medical calls while the fire was burning. 

“This was a great team effort all around, especially given the terrain and weather conditions,” said Deputy Chief Jeff Kelley.

This marks the second weekend in a row that East Bridgewater firefighters have extinguished a significant brush fire. Last weekend, approximately three-quarters of an acre burned in the woods off Strathmore Road. Bridgewater firefighters helped extinguish that blaze. 

The cause of today’s fire remains under investigation, but the area appeared to be a possible hangout spots for kids, so firefighters would like to remind the community that in hot, dry weather, even small fires can get out of control quickly and cause catastrophic damage. 

“If you’re a parent, please talk to your kids about the dangers of woods fires and report any signs of smoke immediately,” said Deputy Chief Kelley.