(Fire Deputy Chief Chris West stands beside one of two brush breakers the department has on hand to combat brush fires.)

It’s burning season.

Two brush fires in the past week have put the Duxbury Fire Department (DFD) on alert. Each was quickly contained thanks to heightened response times by the DFD in light of the threat and the residents who didn’t hesitate to call for assistance.

“We had one fire, not sure how it started, down at the end of Mayflower,” said Deputy Fire Chief Chris West, “and one permit fire that got out of control by Keene Street. It got away from them when they had a little wind shift.” Due to an unseasonably warm spring combined with an exceptionally dry winter, much of the region is at risk for brush fires. The ground cover is dry as tinder, and debris -- broken tree limbs, leaves, brush – have the potential to fuel a fire. Add to that the unseasonably warm weather and lack of leaves on the trees to shield that ground debris from sunlight, and conditions are ideal for brush fires.

“It’s going to be a long time before we see new leaves and there’s a huge amount of fuel on the ground,” said Peter Buttkus, Department of Public Works Director and licensed arborist. “With this kind of heat and no snow melt, the ground is not soggy at all, in fact, it’s very dry. It’s the worst scenario.”

That has fire officials at the state and local level concerned. Open burning season started January 15 and ends May 1. Residents may purchase a permit from their local fire chief to burn yard waste, but must call the department to determine if conditions will allow for a burn day. Lately, those conditions haven’t been ideal for residential burning, but have been for brush fires.

“Even a cigarette out the window could start one,” said West. “We don’t usually get into brush fires until April or May, but with this weather there have been some fires around Middleboro and the Cape.”

West said his department is prepared if a brush fire should break out in Duxbury. In addition to training, they have two brush breakers designed to push over trees to penetrate through woods to get to the heart of a fire, and a smaller vehicle to move more nimbly over open terrain.

“Our brush breakers carry 750 gallons each,” said West. “That’s as much as one of the pumpers.”

Last week, the National Weather Service issued a red flag warning, a guide local fire departments use to determine which days residents with burn permits may lawfully and safely burn yard waste. In the coming weeks and months, there may be more to come.

“People should have patience with us when we cancel a burn day because we do it for a reason,” said West. “We’re regulated by the state and by the Environmental Protection Agency. If the fire department says ‘no burn,’ there’s got to be a reason.”

How to Safely Ignite the Fire

The Massachusetts Department of Public Safety offers safety tips on safe burning. Before starting any residential burning, be sure to check in with the Duxbury Fire Department first.

An adult should always be present during open burning and children and pets should be kept a safe distance away.

Use paper and kindling to start a fire and add progressively larger pieces of wood. Parts of a leftover Christmas tree may also be used.

Never use gasoline, kerosene or any other flammable liquid to start a fire! The risk of personal injury in these cases is very high.

Burn one small pile at a time and slowly add to it. This will help keep the fire from getting out of control.

Select a location away from utility lines.

Fires must be attended until completely extinguished. Do not leave your fire burning unattended. This is a reason to revoke your burning permit.

Fire control tools and water supply must be present. The water supply can be a pressurized fire extinguisher, a pump can or garden hose, and be sure to test it before igniting the fire to be sure it works properly. Also, if relying on a garden hose, double-check that the water supply is turned on and that there are no cracks in the hose itself. You are required to have a water supply and fire control tools on hand.

Watch the wind: Be prepared to extinguish all open burning. It is unsafe to burn during high winds. Use common sense and don’t wait for the fire department to contact you that is has become unsafe to burn. Sudden wind change is the how most open burning gets out of control.

Don’t delay a call for help. If for some reason, the fire should get out of control, call the fire department immediately. Use the utmost caution to prevent injury to yourself or family members or any damage by fire to your home.