Massachusetts National Guard Deployed to Williamstown Wildfire

IN_ARTICLE_IMAGE_ALT: Emergency response drone deployed to support aerial monitoring of wildfire conditions and firefighting operations

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey activated the Massachusetts National Guard on Monday, 26 October 2026, after a wildfire spread from New York into Williamstown, according to NBC Boston, citing State House News Service reporting.

National Guard aircraft will carry out aerial water drops over remote, rocky terrain that firefighters cannot easily reach on the ground, according to the governor’s office.

### Fire Reaches 200 Acres, With No Structures Threatened

The Williamstown Fire Department reported on Monday night that the wildfire covered approximately 200 acres and was 50% contained. The department said the blaze posed no threat to structures.

“Our top priority is keeping people safe and giving our firefighters every resource possible to contain this wildfire,” Healey said in a statement released by her office.

### Drones Support Firefighting Operations

The Massachusetts Department of Fire Services is providing a specialised drone team that streams high-definition and thermal images from above the affected area, according to the governor’s office.

The aerial footage helps emergency personnel identify where resources are needed and direct firefighting efforts across difficult terrain.

The Executive Office of Public Safety and Security and Department of Conservation and Recreation are also monitoring the fire’s spread and assisting emergency operations.

### Previous Wildfire Burned Hundreds of Acres

In May 2021, a wildfire burned at least 800 acres of Clarksburg State Forest in Williamstown. Fire officials described that incident as Massachusetts’ largest wildfire since 1999.

The previous blaze provides local context for the challenges facing crews working in the heavily wooded Berkshire County border region.