SALEM, MASS. (WHDH) – Emergency crews from multiple communities are on the ground and in the air trying to put out growing flames as massive brush fires and smoke continue to spread in the area.

According to the state fire brigade, 47 fires were burning in the state on Monday morning, 18 of which broke out on Sunday.

Affected communities include Salem, Wilmington, Beverly, Canton, Weston and Stoughton.

The largest bushfire in Middleton has spread to more than 250 acres – four times the reported size compared to the previous day.

“Hopefully there will be some rain soon to help the situation,” Middleton resident Wayne Farrin said. “You know, it’s hard.”

As work to contain the fires is expected to continue throughout the day, firefighters across Massachusetts are trying to use the National Guard and water-dropping helicopters to bring what Mother Nature doesn’t have: water.

SKY7-HD spotted a U.S. National Guard helicopter dumping 600-gallon buckets of water on the Middleton fire Monday afternoon. The buckets were refilled at nearby Middleton Pond.

A National Guard helicopter is expected to arrive Tuesday afternoon in Salem, where schools have canceled all outdoor activities as the city continues its days-long battle against smoke.

Firefighters there worked throughout Saturday night and Sunday morning to extinguish a large brush fire near the Lynn Line.

The fire broke out near the Walmart on Highland Avenue, sending a large plume of smoke billowing across the neighborhood.

Emergency crews could be seen using ladder trucks to run water pipes into the forest where brush and trees were burning.

(Copyright (c) 2024 Sunbeam Television. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)