Brush Fires Impacting Air Quality in Greater Boston, Elevated Fire Risks Still in Place in New England
There continues to be an elevated risk of brush fires in New England, with this weekend seeing many brush fires break out in the area.
NBC10 quotes Massachusetts Department of Conservation David Celino who says about 45 fires have broken out in the Commonwealth over the weekend. One notable fire is in Salem, Mass., and according to WBZ-TV, the fire began on Saturday (October 26) and includes about 130 acres. Due to strong winds, this has led to the smell of smoke in the air and impacted air quality in some areas in Boston.
NBC10 Boston First Alert meteorologists say, ” … An inversion formed in the atmosphere overnight and trapped the smoke near the ground. This effectively seals the smoke at the lowest levels of the atmosphere where it can seep into nearby towns and cities.”
As of publishing, AccuWeather’s smoke map of the Greater Boston area shows a significant area north of Boston — including North Reading, Lynnfield, Danvers, Clifton, and Marblehead — impacted by brush fire smoke. Additionally, the National Interagency Fire Center shows on its Wildland Fire Incident Locations map that there are over 50 fires currently burning in Massachusetts as of publishing.
This continued elevated risk of fires in New England is due to the ongoing dry weather conditions. As previously reported, this is one of the dryest falls on record, with little to no measurable rain since September 1. The current 10-day forecast from NBC10 shows no significant precipitation, with some warmer-than-average temperatures in the 70s expected on Wednesday and Thursday.
Not only have conditions been dry, but the wind has been stronger. Plus, with leaves falling and the temperatures being above average, that creates a recipe for wildfires.
The Most Popular Halloween Candy in Massachusetts
Halloween is on Thursday, so if you haven’t purchased candy to hand out to trick-or-treaters, you better get a move on it. However, if you’re stuck on what candy to hand out this Halloween, CandyStore.com might be able to help you out.
The candy retailer released their 2024 study breaking down the most popular Halloween candy in the United States. Their study also features a state-by-state breakdown of the most popular Halloween candy.
What’s the most popular Halloween candy in Massachusetts? In third place is Dubble Bubble Gum, with 51,583 pounds sold. In second is Sour Patch Kids, with 73,295 pounds sold. Coming in first is Butterfinger, which just edged out Sour Patch Kids with 73,779 pounds sold.
In 2024, Halloween candy sales have tallied to a whopping $3.5 billion. Believe it or not, that number is down slightly compared to 2023, when sales added up to $3.6 billion. Those who celebrate Halloween will spend on average $31.69 on candy.
As far as the national rankings go, CandyStore.com says the following is the top 10 most popular Halloween candy in the United States:
10. Butterfinger
9. Hershey Mini Bars
8. Hershey Kisses
7. Candy Corn (Yes, candy corn haters…we know you probably can’t believe this.)
6. Hot Tamales
5. Starburst
4. Skittles
3. Sour Patch Kids
2. Reese’s Cups
1. M&M’s