Press Release  Firefighters Contain 11-Acre Brush Fire in Granby

GRANBY — Granby Fire Chief Michael O’Neill said this evening that firefighters have contained today’s brush fire, which grew to about 11 acres in the area of a former landfill.

“This was a major fire event that required local, regional, and statewide resources to manage,” said Chief O’Neill. “It began as a small brush fire that was driven by the wind and grew very, very quickly.”

Granby firefighters responded to the area of 11 New Ludlow Rd. following a report of a small fire at about 2:35 this afternoon. The fire, located at the front of the landfill, was whipped by the wind and fed by dry vegetation. It went to multiple alarms and brought in several mutual aid companies before the state’s Fire Mobilization Plan was activated, which brought in statewide task forces.

Chief O’Neill said there was a possibility that residents might smell the odor of methane overnight as a result of off-gassing from materials that burned at the landfill. Fire crews will remain on the scene overnight as a precaution.

“The cause of the fire hasn’t been determined, but we know that most brush fires begin with human activity,” Chief O’Neill said. “Central and eastern Massachusetts remain in drought status, and we’re asking everyone to be careful and thoughtful with any open flames outside. Whether you’re smoking, camping, grilling, or using power equipment, please remember that big fires start small and use extra caution.”

Between 50 and 60 firefighters battled the fire. They included personnel from eight mutual aid companies, the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Bureau of Forest Fire Control, the Fire District 7A Forestry Task Force, and Westover Air Force Base, supplemented by an ambulance from the Northampton Fire Department. The Department of Fire Services deployed a mobile command post known as an Incident Support Unit, a Rehab Unit to  provide firefighters with a temperature-controlled environment to rest and rehydrate, and a Drone Unit to gather aerial imagery for personnel on the ground.

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