A woman has died in an outdoor fire in Millbury

A woman died in an outdoor fire at a campground in Millbury Saturday night, and crews continued to battle a large overnight brush fire in Salem on Sunday as dry and windy conditions increased the risk of wildfires in southern New England.

When state police responded to a small brush fire in Millbury on Saturday around 8:20 p.m., a trooper found a woman dead in the encampment where the fire was believed to have started. The fire has been extinguished and the cause is being investigated. Police noted that Massachusetts was under a red flag on Saturday, meaning any outdoor fire could spread quickly and be difficult to extinguish.

Another fire broke out Saturday evening in the woods near a Walmart store in Salem. Flames were visible and smoke billowed from the area. According to Boston25News, the fire chief estimated that between 40 and 60 acres of forest burned. The fire was still active on Sunday afternoon, the dispatcher said.

There are no reports of injuries or evacuations.

“This is an ongoing incident,” the Lynn Fire Department wrote in a Facebook alert. “Smoke from the fire will be visible throughout the area throughout the day. Small fires in the fire area will continue to burn as our members work.”

A red flag was declared in southern New Hampshire on Sunday, where several brush fires had broken out the day before.

The National Weather Service warned that the combination of drought and winds gusting up to 35 mph is expected to create critical fire weather conditions, which could result in fires growing rapidly in dead and dry vegetation.

“Please use extreme caution when disposing of cigarettes,” the Lynn Fire Department said. “Do not throw them on the ground or off the porch or balcony. Please soak them or put them in water. Each of us can contribute to ensuring the safety of our city.”