### Brush Fire Rages in Salem and Lynn, Massachusetts

A significant brush fire is blazing through Salem and Lynn, Massachusetts, after igniting in the woods late Saturday. The fire, which could be seen burning intensely behind a Walmart store off Highland Avenue, has produced substantial smoke in the surrounding areas.

Salem Fire Chief Alan Dionne confirmed Sunday morning that evacuations haven’t been necessary so far. "The brush fire has been smoldering for the past day, creating smoky conditions in the surrounding area," said officials from the city. Chief Dionne did not expect the fire to be extinguished anytime soon, noting that the blaze had already consumed 60 to 80 acres of land.

The fire, concentrated in the wooded area between Highland Avenue and Spring Pond near the Lynn city line, has disrupted the area as thousands flock to Salem for Halloween festivities. "The fire's been burning over my shoulder here but not just in this one area; we have four different fires surrounding the neighborhoods in this area, and Lynn has some on their side," Dionne reported. To combat the blaze, state forestry deployed two units, and local fire services committed four pump companies and an aerial ladder company. Authorities plan to use a drone to assess the full extent of the affected areas.

Condo residents along Olde Village Drive are particularly on edge, with flames nearing their homes. Despite this, officials hope to keep the fire under control before any structures are threatened. The Massachusetts Department of Fire Services has highlighted that the state is under a red flag warning due to high fire danger, cautioning that any new fires could spread rapidly and become challenging to control.