A large brush fire broke out Tuesday morning near Route 28 in Salem just after 11:30. Officials say wind spread the flames toward buildings on Hill Crest Road but they were able to bring it under control. Fire officials said the fire started after they spoke with a homeless man who had been told not to burn any more fires.
Then, yesterday afternoon in Portsmouth, a crash on Interstate 95 south sparked a brush fire and caused significant backups near Exit 3. Portsmouth Fire said a car struck the median, igniting a fire that spread up a hill and into a nearby residential neighborhood. No damage to the houses but about 2 acres were burned. 4 people in the car were also injured and taken to the hospital.