Wildfire in Massachusetts
Every wildfire event the National Weather Service has filed in Massachusetts, year by year, with the most significant episodes. A fire burning in wildland vegetation, with its acreage and damage where known.
The most significant on the map
The most significant wildfire episodes in Massachusetts.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The record
- Events
- 10
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 1
- Damage
- $75,000
Every year
The most significant
Ranked by deaths, injuries, damage and size together.
- Wildfire in Massachusetts, November 8, 2024The combination of very dry conditions and gusty winds resulted in the spread of a brush fire in the town of Pittsfield, MA on November 8, 2024. The fire spread rapidly to two nearby homes, both of which sustained significant damage before becoming quickly contained.
- Wildfire in Massachusetts, April 19 to 20, 2012High pressure offshore brought warm southwesterly flow over southern New England. Above normal temperatures combined with low dewpoints resulting in relative humidity levels in the 15 to 25 percent range.
- Wildfire in Massachusetts, July 5 to 7, 2002Smoke, from many forest fires across the Nemiscau region of northern Quebec, became trapped under a subsidence inversion, and was transported south across western Massachussetts on the evening hours of July 5, to the late evening of July 7.
- Wildfire in Massachusetts, April 4 to 5, 2012Extraordinarily dry conditions combined with winds gusting to 25 to 30 mph to produce conditions ideal for fire spread. A brush fire in Brimfield moved into an area of blown down debris from the June 1, 2011 tornado and became difficult to control.
- Wildfire in Massachusetts, March 8 to 9, 2016A brush fire on Tekoa Mountain near Westfield, Massachusetts started on March 8, 2016 and spread quickly thanks to very dry weather in the previous days and weeks.
- Wildfire in Massachusetts, July 22 to 24, 2016Lightning started a fire on Joint Base Cape Cod on July 22nd. The fire was discovered early Saturday (July 23) but burned through the night and into the following day (July 24). The fire was contained to 125 acres after 36 hours of fighting the fire.
- Wildfire in Massachusetts, May 14 to 18, 2021A wildfire started on East Mountain in the Clarksburg State Forest during the evening of Friday, May 14th. The fire burned 947 acres before it was contained on Tuesday, May 18th, making it the largest wildfire in Massachusetts since 1999.
- Wildfire in Massachusetts, December 1, 2024A wildfire, later called the Butternut fire, ignited on East Mountain, near the Town of Great Barrington, during the evening hours on November 18, 2024.
- Wildfire in Massachusetts, November 18 to 30, 2024A wildfire, later called the Butternut fire, ignited on East Mountain, near the Town of Great Barrington, during the evening hours on November 18, 2024.
More
Sources
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24.