Massachusetts officials speak out about how the rain has helped douse the wildfires.

By Vivienne Felber 

After multiple wildfires struck across the Massachusetts area, rain finally poured late this week. While it did help alleviate the Red Flag conditions, there is still an ongoing wildfire risk. 

This past Thursday, parts of Massachusetts received half an inch and 1.5 inches of rain, alleviating drought conditions, but did little to reduce concerns over ongoing brush fires. Officials warn that the risk of new fires would rise again once the rain stopped and the ground dried. 

On Friday, five towns in the North Shore region declared a state of emergency due to wildfires that had burned about 500 acres. The Massachusetts Department of Fire Services acknowledged the small victory of no new fires Thursday while praising firefighters and all of their efforts. 

As Thanksgiving approaches, fire safety experts are urging caution, especially regarding cooking. State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine highlighted that Thanksgiving sees a spike in cooking-related fires, often due to unsafe practices. The community is advised to go through the holiday with extra caution, including avoiding outdoor turkey fryers, and ensuring smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are functioning properly.