Brush fire burns more than 200 acres in Big River Management Area. What to know.
For more about Friday's brush fire in Exeter, follow this story: https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/local/2023/04/14/exeter-brush-fire-some-residents-asked-to-evacuate-what-to-know/70116346007/
Firefighters on Thursday were still battling a brush fire that has burned more than 200 acres in the Big River Management Area, according to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management.
With a National Weather Service Red Flag warning posted for dangerous brush fire conditions, the fire started early Wednesday afternoon, spreading west as powerful winds pushed the blaze.
"There were lots of swirling winds, which complicated fighting the fire all day long," said Michael J. Healey, chief public affairs officer for the DEM.
More: Large brush fire prompts evacuations in some parts of Exeter - what to know
Fifty-five firefighters were working the fire Thursday morning; firefighters could be there several more days monitoring hot spots and possible underground pockets of fire, Healey said Thursday morning.
"I think we're feeling hopeful about containing the fire today. It was definitely more chaotic Wednesday," Healey said.
No injuries were reported. The area has only a few houses, and none had been damaged as of Thursday morning.
Fire departments from as far away as Cape Cod and Connecticut rushed to Rhode Island to help firefighters from West Greenwich, the DEM and many other Rhode Island communities battle the biggest Rhode Island brush fire in recent memory, according to Healey.
Rhode Island National Guard helicopters dumped water on the fire, and the Rhode Island State Police used drones to monitor the fire's movement.
The DEM manages the Big River Management area as open space for the public's use. Consisting of 8,600 acres in West Greenwich, East Greenwich, Coventry and Exeter, it's the largest publicly owned land parcel in the state, according to the Rhode Island Water Resources Board.
The National Weather Service has been advising in recent days of elevated brush fire potential, and big brush fires have been reported in several Rhode Island towns, including Narragansett. Low humidity, strong winds and powerful spring sunshine contribute to the elevated fire risk.
The Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency and the DEM has asked the public to refrain from using drones in the area. "Rhode Island National Guard is scheduled to continue dropping water, and the safety of all is of the utmost priority," they said on social media.
The public should also stay away for their own safety and to allow firefighters to do their jobs, Healey said.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: West Greenwich wildfire burns 200 acres
