PLAINFIELD – A brush fire broke out Wednesday afternoon off Summit Street, as dry conditions continue to threaten the area. 

Plainfield Fire Chief Robert Shaerer estimates 4 to 5 acres of mostly wooded areas were impacted, with no human or animal deaths reported, and minimal property damage.

Sheds and a chicken coop were damaged, and nearby, a homeowner’s outbuildings such as sheds and a chicken coup sustained damage.  According to Shaerer, two firefighters were sent to the hospital with heat exhaustion, but have since been released in good condition.

“It appears the fire was caused by a large branch that fell onto power lines causing the dry leaves to ignite,” Shaerer wrote in an email.

The State Fire Tower reported the fire at 1:47 p.m., and that is was “under control” by around 3 p.m.  Shaerer said he walked the perimeter of the site this morning at daybreak to assess the damage. He said no hot spots were identified.

Shaerer acknowledged the work of neighboring fire services that joined the Plainfield Volunteer Fire Dept. to help extinguish the fire.

“Luckily the action of our firefighters and mutual aid partners kept the flames from reaching a nearby barn and home,” he said. “We called upon mutual aid from the towns of Ashfield, Cummington, Goshen, Savoy, Windsor, Highland Ambulance, and State Forest Fire.”

He warns that conditions remain extremely dry in the area “so we ask everyone to pay close attention” and call firefighters if smoke is identified.  According to the National Weather Service, the combination of low humidity, high temperatures, and dry conditions have all made this month a particularly vulnerable time for wildfires to spread. 

Hampshire county as a whole has experienced abnormally dry conditions this month, with precipitation averages lower than an inch in what historically has proven to be one of the county’s wettest months, averaging 3.6 inches of precipitation in October.

This week temperatures have also averaged in the mid-70s, with typical averages ranging from the low 50s to low 70s for this time of year.

Samuel Gelinas can be reached at sgelinas@gazettenet.com.