Mass. wildfires cause schools to dismiss early, cancel activities [Video]

Some students were sent home early from school on Tuesday, and schools canceled outdoor activities as firefighters battled wildfires in Salem, Massachusetts, and other nearby communities.The Salem Fire Department has been battling a second brush fire since Saturday, which broke out in Salem Woods overnight.The terrain made it difficult for firefighters to access the fire, so National Guard helicopters were deployed to scoop up water from nearby Spring Pond and dump it on the flames, allowing firefighters to move in closer and attack the fire with their firehoses.”Right now, we’re just keeping our fingers crossed and hoping what we got knocked down tonight will stay down,” Salem fire Chief Alan Dionne said. “if it picks up tomorrow again, it could be a whole different day, depending on wind direction and so forth.Dionne said he is optimistic about the rain that is supposed to come Tuesday night, but it may not …