ROYALASTON – Multiple departments were called in for a brush fire that burned a quarter-acre of woods near Turnpike Road Sunday.

According to information provided by the department, the fire was reported shortly before noon on Sunday, Nov. 10. Royalston Fire dispatched four vehicles to the scene, including two brush trucks.

“Once on scene, crews found approximately a quarter of an acre burning,” the announcement read.

One brush truck went into the woods to extinguish the fire, but due to the dry conditions, mutual aid was called for more brush trucks. Crews from the Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire; Richmond, New Hampshire; Philipston; Winchendon and the State District 8 responded with brush trucks and personnel.

At this time an open burning ban is in place in Royalston. Outside burning of any kind is banned until further notice. The cause of the fire is not known at this time and remains under investigation.

Jon Davine, the state’s fire marshal, has said previously that the commonwealth has seen a massive increase in the number of brush fires last month compared to previous years. Since 2018 there had been an average of 18 brush fires across the state for the month of October, but this year there had been more than 200 reported covering more than 600 acres of land. Already in November, there have been more than 30 reported brush fires, according to Davine.

Davine said the rapid rise in the number of brush fires could be attributed to unusually warm and dry conditions over the last month, with temperatures exceeding 70 degrees Fahrenheit on some days combined with a lack of rainfall. The fires themselves are generally caused by humans, Davine said, mostly unintentionally through outdoor cooking and campfires.

“It’s that time of year where people like to sit outside and enjoy a fire, myself included,” said Davine. “But it’s just so dry out right now that just the smallest stray ember could be enough to start one.”

Communities can help prevent the spread of fires by reporting to their local fire department if they see one, Davine said, as well as municipalities passing “burn bans” to restrict the setting of fires outside to curb the possibility of one starting.

Staff Writer Alexander Macdougall contributed to this report.