A "Red Flag" high fire danger emergency has been in place in Massachusetts for several days. Outsde burning is not permitted due to the extremely dry weather and high winds. An outside fire can very easily spread to large areas of brush and to buildings.
In spite of the continual "Red Flag" high fire danger warnings, last evening Engine 5 & Ladder 2 responded to a "smoke in the area" call which was caused by a burning fire pit in the very congested Inman Square area! The fire was quickly extinguished. A few nights earlier, Engine 4 responded to a burning fire pit in the densely populated North Cambridge district. This fire was quickly extinguished. Almost incredulously, Engine 1 responded to another backyard fire pit, free burning in the congested Trowbridge Street neighborhood. This fire was also extinguished quickly with no extension to homes in the area.
Consider the conflagration potential in the neighborhoods! A fire pit, fanned by the gusty winds, can easily extend to houses in the area and result in destruction of homes & commercial properties.