MONADNOCK REGION, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) Firefighters across the Monadnock Region were kept busy over the weekend as dry, windy conditions led to a high risk of wildfires. The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning Sunday for southern New Hampshire, alerting residents to the increased fire risk due to warm temperatures, low humidity, and wind gusts reaching up to 35 miles per hour.
Fire departments from Keene, Peterborough, New Ipswich, Troy, Fitzwilliam, and Winchester responded to multiple calls for smoke investigations on Sunday, with many departments also extinguishing small brush fires, according to alerts shared via the Southwestern New Hampshire District Fire Mutual Aid on X, formerly Twitter. Some, including brush fires in Troy and New Ipswich, burned over an acre of land each.
The red flag warning prompted several local fire departments, including Alstead Fire and Rescue and the Richmond, Gilsum and Winchester Fire Departments, to ask residents on social media to refrain from outdoor burning. The Rindge Fire Department also reminded residents that the fire danger level reached “very high” (Class 4) on Sunday, emphasizing that new burn permits would not be issued and only limited seasonal cooking fires were allowed.
Firefighters in Swanzey and Hinsdale similarly cautioned residents against any outdoor burning, including safely discarding smoking materials and properly disposing of ashes.
The NWS forecast predicts continued fire risk due to an ongoing dry spell, though wind speeds may ease slightly to around 10 mph on Monday. With humidity levels still low—between 20 and 25 percent—residents are asked to exercise extreme caution and consult fire officials before engaging in any open burning.
