October 28, 2024 • 37 mins
8:05PM: Addressing the shelter and housing crisis in Greater Boston – increasingly in recent years, as pressures on the system have pushed all shelters to capacity with guest Danielle Ferrier, MBA, LICSW, CEO of Heading Home, the Boston area’s largest provider of services for homeless families with children.
8:15PM: The Power of Sports for Amputees – Special Movie Premiere Event November 12th at the Cinema Salem with guest Marci Krown - filmmaker/actor of Krown Family Films
8:30PM: Brush fires burn across MA as residents can smell smoke in and around the Greater Boston Area with guest State Fire Marshal Jon Davine
8:45PM: A check in on this week’s unusual weather with guest AccuWeather meteorologist Brian Thompson
Ask Alexa to play WBZ NewsRadio on #iHeartRadio and listen to NightSide with Dan Rea Weeknights From 8PM-12AM!
8:15PM: The Power of Sports for Amputees – Special Movie Premiere Event November 12th at the Cinema Salem with guest Marci Krown - filmmaker/actor of Krown Family Films
8:30PM: Brush fires burn across MA as residents can smell smoke in and around the Greater Boston Area with guest State Fire Marshal Jon Davine
8:45PM: A check in on this week’s unusual weather with guest AccuWeather meteorologist Brian Thompson
Ask Alexa to play WBZ NewsRadio on #iHeartRadio and listen to NightSide with Dan Rea Weeknights From 8PM-12AM!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
It's Nightside with Dan Ray on WBS Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
Thank you very much, Nicol, as we start another week
of Nightside, I will be with you all week long,
Monday through Friday night from eight until midnight on each
of those evenings, and.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
We will have a variety of guests this week. Later
on tonight, we're going to talk with Plymouth County District
Attorney Tim Cruz about that really insane, crazy murder in
the middle of Plymouth Friday night. Later on tonight will
talk about the non endorsements of that are not being
(00:40):
made by major newspapers and major unions. Later on this week,
we'll talk with a couple of pollsters about the presidential race,
Spencer Kimball of Emerson College, Dave Paleologus of Suffolk University.
And we will also talk with a realtor I know
on Wednesday night about would you buy a haunted house?
A house that we're totally had been haunted. I don't
(01:02):
know that I would, but maybe some braver souls would.
As we start off the week, let me welcome Dan Cantano,
who is going to be our producer all week. Rob
Brooks is on a well deserved vacation. But Dan is
gonna have been working with Rob now for a couple
of weeks and he's all set to fly the plane
solo tonight. So we also, by the way, have to
(01:23):
tell you that at nine o'clock tonight, I'm going to
give away a couple of tickets to what's called Celtic Thunder, No,
not the basketball team, Celtic Thunder, a musical journey with
Irish music sensations. Sensations Celtic Thunder live down at Foxwood,
and we're going to open up phone lines. Don't call now,
we'll open up phone lines. After the nine o'clock news,
(01:43):
we'll clear all the phone lines. So we'll explain that
after the nine o'clock news. But first we're going to
do the night Side News Update, which we do every
night from eight until midnight. There'll be no phone calls
during this hour, but we'll have four very interesting guests.
We're going to start off with Danielle Ferrier, who is
the CEO of Heading Home, Boston area's largest provider of
(02:05):
services for homeless families with children. Danielle Ferrier, Welcome to NIGHTSTT.
How are you this evening.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
I'm good, Thanks so much for having me, Dan, You're
more than welcome.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
Tell us, first of all, Heading Home, who does it serve,
as I understand you to serve both individuals and families.
Tell us about the history of the program, and then
I want to talk about what the status is of
the homeless problem here in Massachusetts.
Speaker 4 (02:32):
Sure, so Heading Home is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary this year.
We serve both families and individuals, as you said, and
we do a lot of work in shelter as well
as deeply affordable housing. So, in terms of your haunted
house question, if you told me how many units, I
might be willing to talking about.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
Uh, well that will we will have to wait until
Wednesday night, that's for sure. So how big a budget
do you have, I mean the scope of the problem,
how much money? How much funding does it take to
deal with the homeless situation in Massachusetts. I'm assuming you
get a lot of private contributions, but there also should
be some government funding as well.
Speaker 4 (03:10):
There is, so we have state, federal, and private funding
to your point. And so typically the budget for our
shelter system has been close to four hundred million, and
this year it's closer to one billion. As folks have
probably hurt, and the difference is in the yes, I'm sorry,
go ahead.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
No, no, no, I'm sure. We can talk about the
influx of migrants and what impact that has had. So
normally four hundred million, variety of sources, So at any
given time in the past, how large Let's deal with
the migrant situation separately. Traditionally, how many people in Massachusetts
(03:51):
or how many families, whatever metric you used, how many
folks in any given year, you know, before the huge
influx of migrants that now you're trying to help out
and deal with. Before that, what would what were the
numbers that you were dealing with on an annual basis?
Just round them off for me.
Speaker 4 (04:08):
Sure, and so let me just clarify. The four hundred
million is the state budget for this, not heading homes budget.
So typically on any given year we any.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
So you get less than four hundred million. If I'm say, yeah.
Speaker 4 (04:21):
Yeah, we are not a budget million, No, that's a
state budget. We are approximately forty million.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
Okay, great, okay, can we serve.
Speaker 4 (04:28):
Last week, for example eighty Sorry sorry about that, No.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
Problem, No, that's I asked the questions. But I want
to if I'm making an incorrect assumption. Thank you for
that correction. So, before the migrants really arrived in for us,
what were you dealing with in terms of traditionally the
traditional homeless problem in Massachusetts?
Speaker 4 (04:47):
Sure, so I want to give in typical night, you
had about thirty eight hundred to four thousand families in
shelter in the state, and so over the year you'd
see you know, seventy five hundred approximately as folks kind
of come through the system. Some years those numbers are
a bit lower, and obviously right now those numbers are.
Speaker 5 (05:05):
A bit higher.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
Sure, And so the Right to Shelter law, which was
signed by Governor de Caucus in nineteen eighty three, had
been a good piece of legislation that provided assistance because
there are people always who fall out of fortune, who
are in a bad relationship, and they need shelter. And
(05:28):
that's why I pay my taxes, and I'm sure most
people are very happy to pay taxes to help people,
you know, who are amongst us who need help. So,
now you have the overlay of the migrant population that
has arrived in force in the last year and a
half to two years, how much of an increase in
percentage basis is the migrant population that has come in
(05:51):
that now you also have to try to help.
Speaker 4 (05:54):
Yeah, So if we go back to the origin of
the law, it's actually a child welfare law. So the
law was created for children so that children did not
sleep on the street. So to your point about our
tax dollars, right, it is about making sure children aren't
sleeping on the street.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
And when you look at industry, you know better, Danielle,
you know it better than I. But I was there
the day that the who had decided the law. I
was working as a TV reporter at the time, and
my understanding was was intended for primarily for women and
women with children and pregnant women as well.
Speaker 4 (06:23):
Obviously, that's right, that's right.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
Right, So, yes, that's that's the real focus. It was
not intended for single adult.
Speaker 4 (06:31):
Males, that is right, that is right. The groupings of
adults are often served in different secretariats in other ways
as well as the same housing secretariat.
Speaker 5 (06:42):
If we look at.
Speaker 4 (06:43):
The you asked me a question about the changes in
terms of the influx of newly arriving families, right, so
we know we had a system that was already taxed
based on housing affordability here in the state of Massachusetts, right,
So a system that was kind of struggling to keep
up to begin with. So any additional needed, you know,
is the straw factor. Right, And so we do see
(07:07):
what we see now as in heading home, for example,
about sixty percent of our families, our Massachusetts residents in
about forty percent are the newly arriving families coming through
our overflow site in Norfolk, Okay.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
And the overflow site in Norfolk is the former base
date correctional facility. How many that is correct? How many families?
How many family units or individuals are being housed out there?
Because I know the folks in Norfolk have had a
tough time getting information from the state as to how
long that facility was going to be used, how much
(07:41):
money was used to cop to to basically accommodate people
to rehabilitate the facility, and how long it's supposed to
remain open. So can you answer some of those thoughts
are being given shelter out there, so.
Speaker 4 (07:56):
We know who this one. By a family account, you
do buy occupancy allowable occupy, so maximum capacity we're allowed
to four hundred and five humans in those buildings there.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
Okay, those four hundred and five, do you have any
idea how many of them are children and now are
being incorporated into the Norfolk public schools? I know that
was an issue at one point.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (08:17):
Right now, right now, we have very few kids that
are in the school system. I mean, based on the
policy changes that the governor put in place, not all
of the kids are necessarily hitting the kind of marker
where they have to be enrolled. But they're approximately a
dozen kids.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
Okay. And is that facility open ended or there was
a point in time No, no, no representation was made
that it would be open for a certain period of time.
Speaker 4 (08:45):
That is correct. That is still the case. It has
a temporary certificate docupancy with a maximum of a year
on it. That has not changed.
Speaker 3 (08:52):
Okay, So it could close, It could, but depending upon
the need, it could close earlier than a year. But
it is not intended to stay open any longer than
a year.
Speaker 6 (09:04):
That is correct.
Speaker 3 (09:05):
Okay. Look, thank you for answering the questions so directly
and so so clearly. So many people who I will
talk to in situations like this, I'm willing to discuss
questions or answer questions, and you know, I think people
need to know what their text dollars are going for.
And you made a great presentation today. Whether or not
(09:27):
people agree with migrants coming or going or whatever, that's
an issue. But your answers have been really fully incomplete,
and I just want to say thank you. Is there
anything you feel that I haven't asked that you'd like
to add?
Speaker 4 (09:41):
I don't think so. I mean, I think the one
thing that people sometimes ask me they'll answer for you,
is if the families that are in the Norfolk site,
for example, are here legally. So let me just say
they actually are here legally under federal immigration law, because
I know that's a question folks do sometimes have for
an early arriving families.
Speaker 7 (09:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (09:59):
I will probably disagree with you on that that some
of them have been flown in. Uh, these are decisions
and exceptions that have been made by the Biden administration.
Are none of them people who have come across the
border illegally?
Speaker 4 (10:14):
No, all or in our side have refuge your asylum
status by the central government.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
Okay, Well, if you come across the border and you
claim that that that you have been persecuted or are
under threat of persecution, you then claiming that status are
given that status without any real proof, and then, as
I understand it, you are given a court date to
come and adjudicate that claim in that court anywhere from six,
(10:44):
seven or eight years. So it's it's a bit of,
you know, at least in my opinion, opinion, sort of
a governmental euphemism here in which people by simply saying
the words I'm here as an economic you know, as
you know, I'm not an economic asciety, they say economic asylum,
they're not allowed in. If they say I'm a political
(11:04):
I'm claiming political asylum, they're able to come in. And
I think people are smart enough to know what magic
words they have to speak. So we'll just agree to
disagree on that character.
Speaker 4 (11:16):
I don't know you agree disagrees, just the understanding we
have legally, so I share it. When people ask the question,
which is a very common one.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
Yeah, yeah, Well, some night, I'd love to have you
come back and take calls, and if you'd like to
take some call, not now tonight, but would you come
back some night and we'll take some from it.
Speaker 4 (11:32):
Will be my pleasure to come back, absolutely, and I'll
answer it directly then too. Thank you, very wonderful appreciate pleasure.
Speaker 3 (11:39):
Thank you. I enjoyed that.
Speaker 6 (11:40):
Thanks so much.
Speaker 4 (11:41):
Take care.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
All right, welcome back and to talk with doctor Scheris Johnson.
She's an author and a psychotherapist. She's talking about expired mindsets.
It's a book that she's written entitled Releasing Patterns That
No Longer Serve You. Well, this is an interesting conversation
and it's coming right up. I want to again thank
Danielle Ferrier of the Boston Shelter the system here which
(12:04):
is called again End Homelessness in Greater Boston about the
program Heading Home. She was a delightful guest and we'll
have her on so you can talk to her as well.
We'll be back with doctor Sharis Johnson on night Side
right after this.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
Now back to Dan Ray live from the Window World
night Side Studios on WBZ News Radio.
Speaker 3 (12:29):
Okay, we have our guests mixed up. Mixed up just
a little bit here, so not Dan's fault. We're going
to talk with Marcy Crown. She's a filmmaker also is
an actor in what's called Crown Family Films, and she's
very much in support of the concept of the power
(12:49):
of sports for amputees. She has a special movie premiere
event coming up on November twelfth, twelfth at the Cinema
in Salem. Yeah, I watched a piece that you did.
I think it was at a San Diego television station.
Very impressive. Tell us about the power of sports for amputees.
I think all of us are familiar with para athletes
(13:12):
and para olympias.
Speaker 5 (13:14):
Yes, thank you Dan for having me on air. It's
a documentary future. It's about three people with legman loss
and we're looking to participate and or compete in sports,
and with the right tools, their success is unlimited. And
I use tools loosely because that could mean anything from
(13:38):
prosthetics to even zip ons. By be Free, they have
the zips right along the side of the pants that
allow the pants to fit right over the prosthetics. So
anything to create a level playing field such as sports
is the best way and also the best way to
(13:59):
get to know the the ampute as well.
Speaker 3 (14:02):
So how did you get involved in this? I mean
it says you're a filmmaker. I don't know if you've
done other films or not, but is this kind of
your life's cause or is this something that is part
of a greater subject of film issues.
Speaker 5 (14:20):
Well, you know, I started an event planning in the
sports field actually, and that's where my love of sports
come in comes in. And back in Atlanta for the
nineteen ninety six Paralympic Games, I was involved in that
and my perceptions changed so much about the abilities of
the amputees and other people with disabilities that I thought,
(14:44):
you know what, I'm going to make my first feature.
This is my first feature on sports which I love
and amputees.
Speaker 3 (14:53):
So now this film is going to be premiered, it
says Cinema Salem. Is that Salem, Massachusetts?
Speaker 8 (15:00):
Yes, Cinema say, how does the how does the film
make up from San Diego end up with a special
movie premiere event in Salem, Massachusetts?
Speaker 5 (15:13):
I know, Well, be Free that's one of my movie sponsors.
They live in Boston, and I wanted.
Speaker 3 (15:20):
To have what is be what is b free? Clus Free?
Speaker 5 (15:24):
Yes, they provide zip ons, which are hands with zippers
on the side.
Speaker 3 (15:29):
Oh yes, yes, yes, And actually interviewed them about a
year or so ago. I think, Okay, now I know
what that is.
Speaker 8 (15:35):
They Yes, they do some of these.
Speaker 3 (15:38):
These adaptive clothing for for people exactly who have prostatics. Yep, absolutely,
and so so the movie. How how long is the
mill is the movie?
Speaker 5 (15:49):
The movie is an hour and a half.
Speaker 3 (15:51):
And we were regular it's a regular feature link film.
I mean, you know they're talking about a brief brief Okay, uh, Well,
some of them, our olympians or para athletes be attending
the premiere.
Speaker 5 (16:05):
We are going to have Nico Calabria. He is actually
a captain and a player of the US amp soccer
team right in Boston, so he is very well knowledgeable
on sports and amputees, and so he will be there,
and I'm working on some other people that will be there.
(16:26):
I'll be there to answer any questions. And I'm so
excited about showing this film to the Boston community and
getting them interested and aware of all the resources that
are in place for them.
Speaker 3 (16:39):
You know, there are a lot of people who lost limbs.
When I say a lot, you know several people who
lost limbs during the marathon bombing.
Speaker 5 (16:48):
Yes, yes, I am aware of that. In fact, some
of them I believe went to participate in the Paralympics
in Paris as well.
Speaker 3 (16:57):
Yes, that's what I'm saying. Some of them have have
turned their love of sport and have overcome. Uh, the
the I shouldn't say limitations because they have no limitations,
but the the the horrific injuries that they suffered. Uh,
and some of them have gone back and have run,
(17:20):
you know, races, you know, I mean, the spirit is
just absolutely incredible. If folks want to get more information
about this film, uh, and it's premiere event on November
twelfth at the Cinema Cinema Salem. Of course, Salem is
going to be a big area of activity in the
(17:42):
next few days with Halloween, I hear I have about that.
Speaker 6 (17:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (17:48):
And also, by the way, have a whole bunch of fires.
We've had a really dry month of September and October
here in New England and all of a sudden, I know,
call California is very familiar with spontaneous fire, sure fires
that grew through carelessness of the disposal of you know,
embers or cigarettes, cigarette butts. So it's going to be
(18:13):
it's it's going to be. It's going to be a
well known city for now. But how can people get
more information on this particular film.
Speaker 5 (18:22):
Yeah, thank you for asking. If they go to my
website www. Dot Crown with a k k R own
Familyfilms dot com. If they look under the screening, there's
going to be a link to event right and that
will take them right to the tickets. And it's twenty
(18:45):
dollars a ticket that includes the networking. We're also going
to have some fantastic food and some desserts, beverages, and
then after the film we're going to have a question
and answer panel. So it's really a nice evening from
about six to nine where everybody can enjoy the movie
(19:05):
and network and meet other people in the community.
Speaker 3 (19:09):
And I'm guessing November twelfth is a Tuesday night. The
reason I know that and I'm not guessing is that
November fifth is election night and so therefore they is
Tuesday November, so well, the twelfth Tuesday, that's for sure.
Marcy Crown, thank you so much for your time tonight,
and thank you for being an advocate for sports for amputees.
(19:31):
Because thank you so.
Speaker 5 (19:33):
Much, Dan, thank you for having me on and I'm
excited to be able to show this there in Boston area.
Speaker 3 (19:41):
And the website Crown with a KKR own Familyfilms, All
one word dot com. Get yourself some tickets and enjoy
a really special event. Thanks. Thanks so much. Marcy. Very
nice to meet you.
Speaker 5 (19:53):
Oh, nice to meet you. Have a great night you too.
Speaker 3 (19:57):
All right, welcome back. Producer. Dan is going to Dan
Cantano's gonna figure out where we're going next. We have
we're missing one of our guests, but we have another
one lined up. We're going to talk, I know, to
the State Fire Marshal. I believe we'll be back on
Nightside right after the news break.
Speaker 1 (20:16):
You're on night Side with Dan Ray on w b Z,
Boston's news radio.
Speaker 3 (20:23):
All right, we are delighted to be joined by the
State Fire Marshall, State Fire Marshal John Devine. Have I
pronounced that correctly? Fire Marshall.
Speaker 6 (20:33):
Hey, I'm doing NaN's John Davin.
Speaker 3 (20:36):
Davin Davin. That's what I thought it was. That's what
I thought it was, but they wrote it out for
me fanatically, so of course it's John Davin. Great to
have you back. Fire Marshall. How are you. We've had
one of those nights, Fire Marshall here, we've had sort
of like three alarm fire in the in the show.
And thanks very much for being available. I know you
weren't supposed to be with us until eight forty five,
(20:58):
but I very much appreciate you a flexible What is
all what's going on with all the these these fires?
Apparently none of them have been set these these are
all spontaneous fires, uh, the old spontaneous combustion.
Speaker 6 (21:16):
No. I mean, we've had actually pretty significant fire activity
in the last probably starting on the weekend. You know,
as you know, it's very dry out there and we
don't have any precipitation in the forecast for the foreseeable future.
So we've had just in the last couple of days,
we've had actually today we had forty seven fires going
(21:37):
today and then eighteen of those have been in the
last twenty four hours.
Speaker 1 (21:40):
So but.
Speaker 3 (21:43):
What I was asking John, is no suggestion that people
setting these right.
Speaker 6 (21:51):
No, No, what we've what we've been hearing so far
as folks using lawnmowers. Uh, you know, the end you
get hot. We've had leaves catch on you know, the
brush up against the moor catch on fire, and with
that wind we've had, they just take off. So we've
had lawnmowers, we've had wood fireplaces and wood stoves. People
(22:14):
are you know, obviously it's heating season, so folks are
taking out their ashes from their wood stoves and instead
of putting them in a metal container with a lid,
you know, they're dumping them outside and catching the leaves
and the debris on fire. So we've got a couple
of those. You know. It's just it's stuff like that.
We haven't had any any reported arson fires or anything
(22:35):
like that. It's just been you know, just folks not
not really paying attention. You know, we've outdoor.
Speaker 3 (22:42):
Fireplaces too, Okay, so it's not spontaneous combustion in terms
of like sunlight, you know, penetrating through some leaves and
starting a fire.
Speaker 7 (22:54):
Some people are doing dumb things and uh, and that
is that's amazing that with all the warnings they have
heard that they would Oh boy, any idea of the
acreage at this point that has been burned in totally?
Speaker 6 (23:13):
You said, yeah, we've had probably close to two hundred
acres burning. Yeah, that includes the fire and Canton. We've
had Canton holding. We had one out in Berry today
that was caused by an unintended campfire. We've got a
big one going in Middleton which is now Middleton North Reading,
(23:34):
and obviously the big one in Salem over the weekend.
So it's been very busy and looks like probably the
rest of the week. We've got our forestry task forces
going out again tomorrow to help out these communities. So
we're looking at a busy week for sure.
Speaker 3 (23:49):
Now you have a much better memory of this than
I do, But I cannot remember this number of contemporaneous
fires in Massachusetts. Now we've had no rain to speak
of since September, very dry. Has there ever been a
situation like this before in your memory within Massachusetts?
Speaker 6 (24:13):
Not that I can remember. I know our our Chief
Forrest Warden, Dave Soele, you know, he would probably be
he could probably name a few. But it is it's
really dry. And you know, now we believes falling and
you know, everything is it's just bone dry out there
and any spark, you know, figurette anything like that. So
that's why we're asking for the public selth and just
(24:35):
you know, paying attention to your lawnmowers and paying attention,
you know, try not to use your eye. You know,
at that time of the year where folks want to, uh,
you know, let a fire in their chimney or their
outdoor fireplace and enjoy it. And I and I get that,
but it's it's just so dry. Out there right now
that any any the smallest of embers and start one
of these significant brush fires. So we're just asking folks
(24:57):
to try to help out your local fire departments. These
fires taken a tremendous amount of resources to extinguish, so
it's just been very busy and any help the public
can give us but much appreciated.
Speaker 3 (25:12):
My understanding, And I've just watched the news like everyone else.
I'm not a part of the news as I used
to be, but I understand that there was at least
one example of loss of life. There was a woman
I believe in Salem. I thought I read that perished
in a fire either near or in her home.
Speaker 6 (25:32):
No, that was in That was in Melbury the other
night on Saturday night. That wasn't. That wasn't related to
an outdoor fire.
Speaker 3 (25:41):
Okay, So at this point, no loss of life related
to these outdoor fires.
Speaker 6 (25:48):
No, and thankfully no loss to property either. And you know,
some of these fires have come pretty close to some
homes and some significant value properties, and luckily our firefighters
out there have done a great job and I'm protecting
those homes. So you know, we're just we're buckling down
for the rest of the week, and you know, we
(26:10):
do morning meetings and afternoon meetings and trying to keep
the fire chiefs updated on the fire behavior and what's
going on out there, and just asking again for the
public selp and trying not to be you know, you know,
use any outdoor fireplaces, make sure you're putting your fireplaces
in your woodstove, ashes and a metal container with a lid,
(26:30):
and stuff like that. Anything they can do to help
us out to e ventuse fires.
Speaker 3 (26:34):
You know, we've seen the fires that were out in
California a couple of months ago, which literally went up
and down hillsides and burned, you know, hundreds of homes.
So to some extent, we're lucky in that it's not
of that magnitude. But if we don't, if we're not
more careful, we could have something of that magnitude.
Speaker 6 (26:56):
Oh absolutely, I mean is it is, uh, it's so
dry out there that it's prime for that type of behavior.
And again, you know, we just we don't want to
lose any life, you don't want to lose any property,
and you know, we just want folks to be smart
about the outdoor fires. And you know, and again, if
someone sees smoke in an area or something. Please while
(27:17):
your local fire department, you know, let them check it out,
and the sooner we can get out there and get
on these things, you know, we can prevent them from
growing to these hundred two hundred acre buyers.
Speaker 3 (27:29):
Last question, and again, when I do these interviews, we
don't review questions in advance. If I'm asking a question
that you don't know the answer to, feel free to
tell me. Are there any efforts to bring other firefighters
in from other states? I mean, at some point our
own resources and our own firefighters are going to get
pretty tired, in some cases exhausted. I know that during
(27:53):
the hurricanes of this this fall, we send some volunteers
to other states. Is are there any people that have
you guys requested any help from other states at this
point it hasn't been offered.
Speaker 6 (28:07):
No, we haven't requested any help. No, we haven't needed
any help from any other states at this point. Luckily,
Massachusetts has a great fire mobilization plan where you know,
we can put strike teams and task forces together very
quickly from other areas of the state and move those
towards the fires. So we've been lucky, you know, Luckily,
(28:27):
We've got some good fire chiefs on that fire Mobilization team,
and you know, that's what they've been doing for us
is just you know, building these task forces and building
these strike teams and pulling them from other areas of
the state that aren't affected to these fires and then
moving them towards towards the east where most of our
fires have been. And again we've got the National Guard
(28:48):
out there who's been fantastic when the water drops. You know,
they've really helped us out a lot with that, so
we're very appreciated to that. And then obviously are forest
firefolks at the state level to that out there and
all these fires and working hard. So it's a great
team effort. You know, we've got MEMA Department Fire Services,
the Executive Office of Public Seat and Security. Again we
(29:11):
meet every morning and you know, kind of figure out
the logistics all right, who needs help where, and then
you know we start working on that plan and just repeat,
rent and repeat the day after day.
Speaker 3 (29:23):
Sounds great, Stay fired, Morshall, John Gavin Davin. John Davin,
appreciate it so much. You taking the time tonight and
we hed you up early in the bullpen. You weren't
doing until a forty five. But thanks for your flexibility
and get some rest and hopefully we'll get some rain
in the not too distant future and calm this situation down.
Appreciate it very much.
Speaker 6 (29:42):
John, I sure hope, so I appreciate it. Dan, thank
you for having me all right, great touch.
Speaker 3 (29:46):
So when we get back, we will have our fourth
and final guest, and I believe Dan has been working
on getting us an ACU weather commentator. Correct me if
I'm wrong, Dan, feel free to jump in and tell
me if that's we're working on. That's good. Appreciate, No, appreciate.
We've you talking with Brian Thompson coming up on the
other side of this break, and we'll talk about getting
(30:08):
some relief from all of these fires, and certainly nothing
would do it as much good as a couple of
big rainstorms. We'll see what's on the horizon with Brian
Thompson of ACU Weather back on Nightside right after these messages.
Speaker 1 (30:22):
Now back to Dan Way live from the Window World
night Side Studios on WBZ News Radio.
Speaker 3 (30:30):
We just spoke with the State Fire Marshal John Davin
about forty seven brush fires that are in active somewhere
across Massachusetts. We're delighted to be joined by Brian Thompson
of ACI Weather. Brian, the questions are so obvious. I'm
(30:51):
sure that there's nothing I'm going to ask you that's
going to surprise you. But this is an extraordinary situation
we find ourselves. And when was the last time we
had any really measurable rain in Massachusetts?
Speaker 9 (31:03):
It was about two weeks ago. Dan, it was back
on the thirteenth and fourteenth, we had about a quarter
of an inch of rain. There's really only been just
looking at some of the stats here in Boston, I'm sure,
looking at some of the out sites here, places like Worcestria,
I mean, there's really only been two rain events of
any substantial nature here this month, back on October seventh,
(31:24):
and then from the thirteenth to the fourteenth. Most places
have barely had two thirds of an inch of rain
this entire month. And believe it or not, we've actually
had more rain here that we've had in other parts
of the Northeast. You get down from New York City Philadelphia,
they have not had measurable rain at all this month.
But it has been remarkable just how dry it has
been The average rainfall for the entire month in Boston
(31:46):
is a little over four inches, and we are running
way below that. And if you remember, we got into
assume at least dry periods during the month of September.
We only had a little over an inch of rain then,
so this has been a pretty dry stretch over the
last six to eight weeks.
Speaker 3 (32:02):
Well, I remember down in the Cape, and I believe
it was in either late August maybe early September, there
was a torrential rain about eight inches. That was one
incredible rainstorm. Am I correct in remembering that to be
like late it was sometime in mid to late August.
Speaker 9 (32:22):
Yeah, actually, it may have been mid to late September.
Just looking back here, I see some some rainfall totals
of three to five inches places like Hynis out of
Provincetown too. That was that was a fire call. Correctly,
a very localized event.
Speaker 3 (32:36):
So there was some yes, yes, yes, yes, absolutely right
there back, Yeah, yeah, there was, but that doesn't help,
that doesn't Yeah, that doesn't help other parts of the state.
Speaker 9 (32:50):
No, and the farther west you went with that events,
Certainly it was not as impressive of a rainfall event.
It was like I said, very localized, and since then,
over the past four weeks, we just really haven't added
on much to it. And the additional problem is, naturally,
now that we're heading into late we're at the end
of October, we have a lot of the leaves that
(33:11):
have fallen off the trees, just kind of adding to
the fuel for some of these fires when they do start,
and if you get any wind events, these fires can
spread relatively quickly if they develop.
Speaker 3 (33:22):
What's the next week or so looking like I watched
some of the weather forecast TV weather forecast tonight, and
I know there's some suggestion. I think Wednesday into Thursday
they might be a little bit of rain, but there's
nothing huge in the horizon.
Speaker 9 (33:33):
Correct, Yeah, I think certainly this week we will have
a couple of chances. Here might actually be a chance
here Tomorrow night into Wednesday morning, there's going to be
a warm front pushing on through. After that, it's going
to get pretty warm, but we'll dry out for a
few days. We have another chance with a cold front
coming on Friday, and then potentially as we head into
the first full week of November next week, there's at
(33:56):
least some storm systems on the weather map. It's not
a guarantee they'll move across our area bring us some rain,
but they're at least going to be closer to us,
which over the last couple of weeks really hasn't there
really hasn't been much in the cards at all, just
simply because of just the dominant high pressure that's been
over us for most of the last two weeks. So
at least we're getting into a period pattern where there
(34:16):
will be some opportunities to pick up some rain, although
through the rest of this week I think most of
the rain that we see is going to.
Speaker 3 (34:22):
Be on a light side.
Speaker 9 (34:23):
This first event here Tuesday night Tomorrow night into Wednesday morning,
probably not much more than a tenth of an inch,
maybe two tenths of an inch, But we'll take what
week and get. At this point, we haven't had any
rain really in the last two weeks, so anything will
help at this point.
Speaker 3 (34:37):
And just refreshment, recollection. You may have mentioned this already,
but obviously we've had hardly any rain here in October. Normally,
what do we get, you know, on average across Massachusetts
during the month of October, how many inches?
Speaker 9 (34:52):
It's usually a little round or just a little above
four inches of rain, so we're running a good bit
below that. Obviously, October can be a dry month, but
sometimes sometimes that average number is influenced by some tropical systems.
We can still get pieces of in October. That's more
usually more of a September thing, but sometimes still in
(35:14):
October we can get some tropical moisture coming in. But
we just haven't had any of that. Like I said,
high pressure has been kind of controlling the weather here
of the last couple of weeks, and that's just been
deflecting any chances of rain well away from us.
Speaker 3 (35:28):
I remember one Halloween, I forget what year it was,
we had a pretty good sized snowstorm one Halloween, and
then for the rest of the winter, I don't think
we had a really measurable snow event. Do you recall
this's gotta be like maybe ten, twelve, fifteen years ago.
Speaker 9 (35:47):
Yeah, I don't recall offhand to what year, But we
have had storms in October. We've had them around Halloween
that have brought significant snow, and that always adds an
extra layer of concern because when you have snowfall, and
it's usually a very wet snow when it falls in
October on on trees that have still a lot of
leaves on them. That can cause a lot of problems,
(36:08):
can cause widespread power outages. I do recall a storm again,
it was several years ago, probably five to ten years ago,
that caused all sorts of power outages across So.
Speaker 3 (36:17):
It was a real it was a real snowstorm. And
I also remember in nineteen ninety one, and the reason
I remember that is our daughter had been born earlier
that month, and that was the year of the Perfect Storm,
the big movie that there was such a box office
hit where we had that nor'easter come in late October,
so we could use something like that, maybe not quite
(36:39):
as bad as that, but something. Brian, thank you so much.
We came up one short of one guest tonight, so
we got you up in the bullpen and carry the
baseball analogy. You did a great job for us. Thank
you so much. Okay, yep, thanks Dan, have a good night.
All right, you too. All right, we come back. We're
going to go first of all, when we come back,
(37:01):
we're going to give you a chance. Immediately after the news,
I'll give you a special number to call, and if
you call on number, ten, you're going to win a
couple of tickets to see Celtic Thunder at the Premier
Theater at Foxwoods on November seventh. If you want them now,
don't take them if you're not going to use them.
But we'll talk about that on the other side of
the nine o'clock news, and we will also on the
(37:21):
other side of the nine o'clock news get to our
regularly program. So we're going to talk about this horrific murder,
this horrific road murder. It really was rage and then
it wasn't road rage. And we hope to talk with
District Attorney Pluffick Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz about
(37:41):
this really horrible, horrible event. We'll explain
It's Nightside with Dan Ray on WBS Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
Thank you very much, Nicol, as we start another week
of Nightside, I will be with you all week long,
Monday through Friday night from eight until midnight on each
of those evenings, and.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
We will have a variety of guests this week. Later
on tonight, we're going to talk with Plymouth County District
Attorney Tim Cruz about that really insane, crazy murder in
the middle of Plymouth Friday night. Later on tonight will
talk about the non endorsements of that are not being
(00:40):
made by major newspapers and major unions. Later on this week,
we'll talk with a couple of pollsters about the presidential race,
Spencer Kimball of Emerson College, Dave Paleologus of Suffolk University.
And we will also talk with a realtor I know
on Wednesday night about would you buy a haunted house?
A house that we're totally had been haunted. I don't
(01:02):
know that I would, but maybe some braver souls would.
As we start off the week, let me welcome Dan Cantano,
who is going to be our producer all week. Rob
Brooks is on a well deserved vacation. But Dan is
gonna have been working with Rob now for a couple
of weeks and he's all set to fly the plane
solo tonight. So we also, by the way, have to
(01:23):
tell you that at nine o'clock tonight, I'm going to
give away a couple of tickets to what's called Celtic Thunder, No,
not the basketball team, Celtic Thunder, a musical journey with
Irish music sensations. Sensations Celtic Thunder live down at Foxwood,
and we're going to open up phone lines. Don't call now,
we'll open up phone lines. After the nine o'clock news,
(01:43):
we'll clear all the phone lines. So we'll explain that
after the nine o'clock news. But first we're going to
do the night Side News Update, which we do every
night from eight until midnight. There'll be no phone calls
during this hour, but we'll have four very interesting guests.
We're going to start off with Danielle Ferrier, who is
the CEO of Heading Home, Boston area's largest provider of
(02:05):
services for homeless families with children. Danielle Ferrier, Welcome to NIGHTSTT.
How are you this evening.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
I'm good, Thanks so much for having me, Dan, You're
more than welcome.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
Tell us, first of all, Heading Home, who does it serve,
as I understand you to serve both individuals and families.
Tell us about the history of the program, and then
I want to talk about what the status is of
the homeless problem here in Massachusetts.
Speaker 4 (02:32):
Sure, so Heading Home is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary this year.
We serve both families and individuals, as you said, and
we do a lot of work in shelter as well
as deeply affordable housing. So, in terms of your haunted
house question, if you told me how many units, I
might be willing to talking about.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
Uh, well that will we will have to wait until
Wednesday night, that's for sure. So how big a budget
do you have, I mean the scope of the problem,
how much money? How much funding does it take to
deal with the homeless situation in Massachusetts. I'm assuming you
get a lot of private contributions, but there also should
be some government funding as well.
Speaker 4 (03:10):
There is, so we have state, federal, and private funding
to your point. And so typically the budget for our
shelter system has been close to four hundred million, and
this year it's closer to one billion. As folks have
probably hurt, and the difference is in the yes, I'm sorry,
go ahead.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
No, no, no, I'm sure. We can talk about the
influx of migrants and what impact that has had. So
normally four hundred million, variety of sources, So at any
given time in the past, how large Let's deal with
the migrant situation separately. Traditionally, how many people in Massachusetts
(03:51):
or how many families, whatever metric you used, how many
folks in any given year, you know, before the huge
influx of migrants that now you're trying to help out
and deal with. Before that, what would what were the
numbers that you were dealing with on an annual basis?
Just round them off for me.
Speaker 4 (04:08):
Sure, and so let me just clarify. The four hundred
million is the state budget for this, not heading homes budget.
So typically on any given year we any.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
So you get less than four hundred million. If I'm say, yeah.
Speaker 4 (04:21):
Yeah, we are not a budget million, No, that's a
state budget. We are approximately forty million.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
Okay, great, okay, can we serve.
Speaker 4 (04:28):
Last week, for example eighty Sorry sorry about that, No.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
Problem, No, that's I asked the questions. But I want
to if I'm making an incorrect assumption. Thank you for
that correction. So, before the migrants really arrived in for us,
what were you dealing with in terms of traditionally the
traditional homeless problem in Massachusetts?
Speaker 4 (04:47):
Sure, so I want to give in typical night, you
had about thirty eight hundred to four thousand families in
shelter in the state, and so over the year you'd
see you know, seventy five hundred approximately as folks kind
of come through the system. Some years those numbers are
a bit lower, and obviously right now those numbers are.
Speaker 5 (05:05):
A bit higher.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
Sure, And so the Right to Shelter law, which was
signed by Governor de Caucus in nineteen eighty three, had
been a good piece of legislation that provided assistance because
there are people always who fall out of fortune, who
are in a bad relationship, and they need shelter. And
(05:28):
that's why I pay my taxes, and I'm sure most
people are very happy to pay taxes to help people,
you know, who are amongst us who need help. So,
now you have the overlay of the migrant population that
has arrived in force in the last year and a
half to two years, how much of an increase in
percentage basis is the migrant population that has come in
(05:51):
that now you also have to try to help.
Speaker 4 (05:54):
Yeah, So if we go back to the origin of
the law, it's actually a child welfare law. So the
law was created for children so that children did not
sleep on the street. So to your point about our
tax dollars, right, it is about making sure children aren't
sleeping on the street.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
And when you look at industry, you know better, Danielle,
you know it better than I. But I was there
the day that the who had decided the law. I
was working as a TV reporter at the time, and
my understanding was was intended for primarily for women and
women with children and pregnant women as well.
Speaker 4 (06:23):
Obviously, that's right, that's right.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
Right, So, yes, that's that's the real focus. It was
not intended for single adult.
Speaker 4 (06:31):
Males, that is right, that is right. The groupings of
adults are often served in different secretariats in other ways
as well as the same housing secretariat.
Speaker 5 (06:42):
If we look at.
Speaker 4 (06:43):
The you asked me a question about the changes in
terms of the influx of newly arriving families, right, so
we know we had a system that was already taxed
based on housing affordability here in the state of Massachusetts, right,
So a system that was kind of struggling to keep
up to begin with. So any additional needed, you know,
is the straw factor. Right, And so we do see
(07:07):
what we see now as in heading home, for example,
about sixty percent of our families, our Massachusetts residents in
about forty percent are the newly arriving families coming through
our overflow site in Norfolk, Okay.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
And the overflow site in Norfolk is the former base
date correctional facility. How many that is correct? How many families?
How many family units or individuals are being housed out there?
Because I know the folks in Norfolk have had a
tough time getting information from the state as to how
long that facility was going to be used, how much
(07:41):
money was used to cop to to basically accommodate people
to rehabilitate the facility, and how long it's supposed to
remain open. So can you answer some of those thoughts
are being given shelter out there, so.
Speaker 4 (07:56):
We know who this one. By a family account, you
do buy occupancy allowable occupy, so maximum capacity we're allowed
to four hundred and five humans in those buildings there.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
Okay, those four hundred and five, do you have any
idea how many of them are children and now are
being incorporated into the Norfolk public schools? I know that
was an issue at one point.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (08:17):
Right now, right now, we have very few kids that
are in the school system. I mean, based on the
policy changes that the governor put in place, not all
of the kids are necessarily hitting the kind of marker
where they have to be enrolled. But they're approximately a
dozen kids.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
Okay. And is that facility open ended or there was
a point in time No, no, no representation was made
that it would be open for a certain period of time.
Speaker 4 (08:45):
That is correct. That is still the case. It has
a temporary certificate docupancy with a maximum of a year
on it. That has not changed.
Speaker 3 (08:52):
Okay, So it could close, It could, but depending upon
the need, it could close earlier than a year. But
it is not intended to stay open any longer than
a year.
Speaker 6 (09:04):
That is correct.
Speaker 3 (09:05):
Okay. Look, thank you for answering the questions so directly
and so so clearly. So many people who I will
talk to in situations like this, I'm willing to discuss
questions or answer questions, and you know, I think people
need to know what their text dollars are going for.
And you made a great presentation today. Whether or not
(09:27):
people agree with migrants coming or going or whatever, that's
an issue. But your answers have been really fully incomplete,
and I just want to say thank you. Is there
anything you feel that I haven't asked that you'd like
to add?
Speaker 4 (09:41):
I don't think so. I mean, I think the one
thing that people sometimes ask me they'll answer for you,
is if the families that are in the Norfolk site,
for example, are here legally. So let me just say
they actually are here legally under federal immigration law, because
I know that's a question folks do sometimes have for
an early arriving families.
Speaker 7 (09:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (09:59):
I will probably disagree with you on that that some
of them have been flown in. Uh, these are decisions
and exceptions that have been made by the Biden administration.
Are none of them people who have come across the
border illegally?
Speaker 4 (10:14):
No, all or in our side have refuge your asylum
status by the central government.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
Okay, Well, if you come across the border and you
claim that that that you have been persecuted or are
under threat of persecution, you then claiming that status are
given that status without any real proof, and then, as
I understand it, you are given a court date to
come and adjudicate that claim in that court anywhere from six,
(10:44):
seven or eight years. So it's it's a bit of,
you know, at least in my opinion, opinion, sort of
a governmental euphemism here in which people by simply saying
the words I'm here as an economic you know, as
you know, I'm not an economic asciety, they say economic asylum,
they're not allowed in. If they say I'm a political
(11:04):
I'm claiming political asylum, they're able to come in. And
I think people are smart enough to know what magic
words they have to speak. So we'll just agree to
disagree on that character.
Speaker 4 (11:16):
I don't know you agree disagrees, just the understanding we
have legally, so I share it. When people ask the question,
which is a very common one.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
Yeah, yeah, Well, some night, I'd love to have you
come back and take calls, and if you'd like to
take some call, not now tonight, but would you come
back some night and we'll take some from it.
Speaker 4 (11:32):
Will be my pleasure to come back, absolutely, and I'll
answer it directly then too. Thank you, very wonderful appreciate pleasure.
Speaker 3 (11:39):
Thank you. I enjoyed that.
Speaker 6 (11:40):
Thanks so much.
Speaker 4 (11:41):
Take care.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
All right, welcome back and to talk with doctor Scheris Johnson.
She's an author and a psychotherapist. She's talking about expired mindsets.
It's a book that she's written entitled Releasing Patterns That
No Longer Serve You. Well, this is an interesting conversation
and it's coming right up. I want to again thank
Danielle Ferrier of the Boston Shelter the system here which
(12:04):
is called again End Homelessness in Greater Boston about the
program Heading Home. She was a delightful guest and we'll
have her on so you can talk to her as well.
We'll be back with doctor Sharis Johnson on night Side
right after this.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
Now back to Dan Ray live from the Window World
night Side Studios on WBZ News Radio.
Speaker 3 (12:29):
Okay, we have our guests mixed up. Mixed up just
a little bit here, so not Dan's fault. We're going
to talk with Marcy Crown. She's a filmmaker also is
an actor in what's called Crown Family Films, and she's
very much in support of the concept of the power
(12:49):
of sports for amputees. She has a special movie premiere
event coming up on November twelfth, twelfth at the Cinema
in Salem. Yeah, I watched a piece that you did.
I think it was at a San Diego television station.
Very impressive. Tell us about the power of sports for amputees.
I think all of us are familiar with para athletes
(13:12):
and para olympias.
Speaker 5 (13:14):
Yes, thank you Dan for having me on air. It's
a documentary future. It's about three people with legman loss
and we're looking to participate and or compete in sports,
and with the right tools, their success is unlimited. And
I use tools loosely because that could mean anything from
(13:38):
prosthetics to even zip ons. By be Free, they have
the zips right along the side of the pants that
allow the pants to fit right over the prosthetics. So
anything to create a level playing field such as sports
is the best way and also the best way to
(13:59):
get to know the the ampute as well.
Speaker 3 (14:02):
So how did you get involved in this? I mean
it says you're a filmmaker. I don't know if you've
done other films or not, but is this kind of
your life's cause or is this something that is part
of a greater subject of film issues.
Speaker 5 (14:20):
Well, you know, I started an event planning in the
sports field actually, and that's where my love of sports
come in comes in. And back in Atlanta for the
nineteen ninety six Paralympic Games, I was involved in that
and my perceptions changed so much about the abilities of
the amputees and other people with disabilities that I thought,
(14:44):
you know what, I'm going to make my first feature.
This is my first feature on sports which I love
and amputees.
Speaker 3 (14:53):
So now this film is going to be premiered, it
says Cinema Salem. Is that Salem, Massachusetts?
Speaker 8 (15:00):
Yes, Cinema say, how does the how does the film
make up from San Diego end up with a special
movie premiere event in Salem, Massachusetts?
Speaker 5 (15:13):
I know, Well, be Free that's one of my movie sponsors.
They live in Boston, and I wanted.
Speaker 3 (15:20):
To have what is be what is b free? Clus Free?
Speaker 5 (15:24):
Yes, they provide zip ons, which are hands with zippers
on the side.
Speaker 3 (15:29):
Oh yes, yes, yes, And actually interviewed them about a
year or so ago. I think, Okay, now I know
what that is.
Speaker 8 (15:35):
They Yes, they do some of these.
Speaker 3 (15:38):
These adaptive clothing for for people exactly who have prostatics. Yep, absolutely,
and so so the movie. How how long is the
mill is the movie?
Speaker 5 (15:49):
The movie is an hour and a half.
Speaker 3 (15:51):
And we were regular it's a regular feature link film.
I mean, you know they're talking about a brief brief Okay, uh, Well,
some of them, our olympians or para athletes be attending
the premiere.
Speaker 5 (16:05):
We are going to have Nico Calabria. He is actually
a captain and a player of the US amp soccer
team right in Boston, so he is very well knowledgeable
on sports and amputees, and so he will be there,
and I'm working on some other people that will be there.
(16:26):
I'll be there to answer any questions. And I'm so
excited about showing this film to the Boston community and
getting them interested and aware of all the resources that
are in place for them.
Speaker 3 (16:39):
You know, there are a lot of people who lost limbs.
When I say a lot, you know several people who
lost limbs during the marathon bombing.
Speaker 5 (16:48):
Yes, yes, I am aware of that. In fact, some
of them I believe went to participate in the Paralympics
in Paris as well.
Speaker 3 (16:57):
Yes, that's what I'm saying. Some of them have have
turned their love of sport and have overcome. Uh, the
the I shouldn't say limitations because they have no limitations,
but the the the horrific injuries that they suffered. Uh,
and some of them have gone back and have run,
(17:20):
you know, races, you know, I mean, the spirit is
just absolutely incredible. If folks want to get more information
about this film, uh, and it's premiere event on November
twelfth at the Cinema Cinema Salem. Of course, Salem is
going to be a big area of activity in the
(17:42):
next few days with Halloween, I hear I have about that.
Speaker 6 (17:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (17:48):
And also, by the way, have a whole bunch of fires.
We've had a really dry month of September and October
here in New England and all of a sudden, I know,
call California is very familiar with spontaneous fire, sure fires
that grew through carelessness of the disposal of you know,
embers or cigarettes, cigarette butts. So it's going to be
(18:13):
it's it's going to be. It's going to be a
well known city for now. But how can people get
more information on this particular film.
Speaker 5 (18:22):
Yeah, thank you for asking. If they go to my
website www. Dot Crown with a k k R own
Familyfilms dot com. If they look under the screening, there's
going to be a link to event right and that
will take them right to the tickets. And it's twenty
(18:45):
dollars a ticket that includes the networking. We're also going
to have some fantastic food and some desserts, beverages, and
then after the film we're going to have a question
and answer panel. So it's really a nice evening from
about six to nine where everybody can enjoy the movie
(19:05):
and network and meet other people in the community.
Speaker 3 (19:09):
And I'm guessing November twelfth is a Tuesday night. The
reason I know that and I'm not guessing is that
November fifth is election night and so therefore they is
Tuesday November, so well, the twelfth Tuesday, that's for sure.
Marcy Crown, thank you so much for your time tonight,
and thank you for being an advocate for sports for amputees.
(19:31):
Because thank you so.
Speaker 5 (19:33):
Much, Dan, thank you for having me on and I'm
excited to be able to show this there in Boston area.
Speaker 3 (19:41):
And the website Crown with a KKR own Familyfilms, All
one word dot com. Get yourself some tickets and enjoy
a really special event. Thanks. Thanks so much. Marcy. Very
nice to meet you.
Speaker 5 (19:53):
Oh, nice to meet you. Have a great night you too.
Speaker 3 (19:57):
All right, welcome back. Producer. Dan is going to Dan
Cantano's gonna figure out where we're going next. We have
we're missing one of our guests, but we have another
one lined up. We're going to talk, I know, to
the State Fire Marshal. I believe we'll be back on
Nightside right after the news break.
Speaker 1 (20:16):
You're on night Side with Dan Ray on w b Z,
Boston's news radio.
Speaker 3 (20:23):
All right, we are delighted to be joined by the
State Fire Marshall, State Fire Marshal John Devine. Have I
pronounced that correctly? Fire Marshall.
Speaker 6 (20:33):
Hey, I'm doing NaN's John Davin.
Speaker 3 (20:36):
Davin Davin. That's what I thought it was. That's what
I thought it was, but they wrote it out for
me fanatically, so of course it's John Davin. Great to
have you back. Fire Marshall. How are you. We've had
one of those nights, Fire Marshall here, we've had sort
of like three alarm fire in the in the show.
And thanks very much for being available. I know you
weren't supposed to be with us until eight forty five,
(20:58):
but I very much appreciate you a flexible What is
all what's going on with all the these these fires?
Apparently none of them have been set these these are
all spontaneous fires, uh, the old spontaneous combustion.
Speaker 6 (21:16):
No. I mean, we've had actually pretty significant fire activity
in the last probably starting on the weekend. You know,
as you know, it's very dry out there and we
don't have any precipitation in the forecast for the foreseeable future.
So we've had just in the last couple of days,
we've had actually today we had forty seven fires going
(21:37):
today and then eighteen of those have been in the
last twenty four hours.
Speaker 1 (21:40):
So but.
Speaker 3 (21:43):
What I was asking John, is no suggestion that people
setting these right.
Speaker 6 (21:51):
No, No, what we've what we've been hearing so far
as folks using lawnmowers. Uh, you know, the end you
get hot. We've had leaves catch on you know, the
brush up against the moor catch on fire, and with
that wind we've had, they just take off. So we've
had lawnmowers, we've had wood fireplaces and wood stoves. People
(22:14):
are you know, obviously it's heating season, so folks are
taking out their ashes from their wood stoves and instead
of putting them in a metal container with a lid,
you know, they're dumping them outside and catching the leaves
and the debris on fire. So we've got a couple
of those. You know. It's just it's stuff like that.
We haven't had any any reported arson fires or anything
(22:35):
like that. It's just been you know, just folks not
not really paying attention. You know, we've outdoor.
Speaker 3 (22:42):
Fireplaces too, Okay, so it's not spontaneous combustion in terms
of like sunlight, you know, penetrating through some leaves and
starting a fire.
Speaker 7 (22:54):
Some people are doing dumb things and uh, and that
is that's amazing that with all the warnings they have
heard that they would Oh boy, any idea of the
acreage at this point that has been burned in totally?
Speaker 6 (23:13):
You said, yeah, we've had probably close to two hundred
acres burning. Yeah, that includes the fire and Canton. We've
had Canton holding. We had one out in Berry today
that was caused by an unintended campfire. We've got a
big one going in Middleton which is now Middleton North Reading,
(23:34):
and obviously the big one in Salem over the weekend.
So it's been very busy and looks like probably the
rest of the week. We've got our forestry task forces
going out again tomorrow to help out these communities. So
we're looking at a busy week for sure.
Speaker 3 (23:49):
Now you have a much better memory of this than
I do, But I cannot remember this number of contemporaneous
fires in Massachusetts. Now we've had no rain to speak
of since September, very dry. Has there ever been a
situation like this before in your memory within Massachusetts?
Speaker 6 (24:13):
Not that I can remember. I know our our Chief
Forrest Warden, Dave Soele, you know, he would probably be
he could probably name a few. But it is it's
really dry. And you know, now we believes falling and
you know, everything is it's just bone dry out there
and any spark, you know, figurette anything like that. So
that's why we're asking for the public selth and just
(24:35):
you know, paying attention to your lawnmowers and paying attention,
you know, try not to use your eye. You know,
at that time of the year where folks want to, uh,
you know, let a fire in their chimney or their
outdoor fireplace and enjoy it. And I and I get that,
but it's it's just so dry. Out there right now
that any any the smallest of embers and start one
of these significant brush fires. So we're just asking folks
(24:57):
to try to help out your local fire departments. These
fires taken a tremendous amount of resources to extinguish, so
it's just been very busy and any help the public
can give us but much appreciated.
Speaker 3 (25:12):
My understanding, And I've just watched the news like everyone else.
I'm not a part of the news as I used
to be, but I understand that there was at least
one example of loss of life. There was a woman
I believe in Salem. I thought I read that perished
in a fire either near or in her home.
Speaker 6 (25:32):
No, that was in That was in Melbury the other
night on Saturday night. That wasn't. That wasn't related to
an outdoor fire.
Speaker 3 (25:41):
Okay, So at this point, no loss of life related
to these outdoor fires.
Speaker 6 (25:48):
No, and thankfully no loss to property either. And you know,
some of these fires have come pretty close to some
homes and some significant value properties, and luckily our firefighters
out there have done a great job and I'm protecting
those homes. So you know, we're just we're buckling down
for the rest of the week, and you know, we
(26:10):
do morning meetings and afternoon meetings and trying to keep
the fire chiefs updated on the fire behavior and what's
going on out there, and just asking again for the
public selp and trying not to be you know, you know,
use any outdoor fireplaces, make sure you're putting your fireplaces
in your woodstove, ashes and a metal container with a lid,
(26:30):
and stuff like that. Anything they can do to help
us out to e ventuse fires.
Speaker 3 (26:34):
You know, we've seen the fires that were out in
California a couple of months ago, which literally went up
and down hillsides and burned, you know, hundreds of homes.
So to some extent, we're lucky in that it's not
of that magnitude. But if we don't, if we're not
more careful, we could have something of that magnitude.
Speaker 6 (26:56):
Oh absolutely, I mean is it is, uh, it's so
dry out there that it's prime for that type of behavior.
And again, you know, we just we don't want to
lose any life, you don't want to lose any property,
and you know, we just want folks to be smart
about the outdoor fires. And you know, and again, if
someone sees smoke in an area or something. Please while
(27:17):
your local fire department, you know, let them check it out,
and the sooner we can get out there and get
on these things, you know, we can prevent them from
growing to these hundred two hundred acre buyers.
Speaker 3 (27:29):
Last question, and again, when I do these interviews, we
don't review questions in advance. If I'm asking a question
that you don't know the answer to, feel free to
tell me. Are there any efforts to bring other firefighters
in from other states? I mean, at some point our
own resources and our own firefighters are going to get
pretty tired, in some cases exhausted. I know that during
(27:53):
the hurricanes of this this fall, we send some volunteers
to other states. Is are there any people that have
you guys requested any help from other states at this
point it hasn't been offered.
Speaker 6 (28:07):
No, we haven't requested any help. No, we haven't needed
any help from any other states at this point. Luckily,
Massachusetts has a great fire mobilization plan where you know,
we can put strike teams and task forces together very
quickly from other areas of the state and move those
towards the fires. So we've been lucky, you know, Luckily,
(28:27):
We've got some good fire chiefs on that fire Mobilization team,
and you know, that's what they've been doing for us
is just you know, building these task forces and building
these strike teams and pulling them from other areas of
the state that aren't affected to these fires and then
moving them towards towards the east where most of our
fires have been. And again we've got the National Guard
(28:48):
out there who's been fantastic when the water drops. You know,
they've really helped us out a lot with that, so
we're very appreciated to that. And then obviously are forest
firefolks at the state level to that out there and
all these fires and working hard. So it's a great
team effort. You know, we've got MEMA Department Fire Services,
the Executive Office of Public Seat and Security. Again we
(29:11):
meet every morning and you know, kind of figure out
the logistics all right, who needs help where, and then
you know we start working on that plan and just repeat,
rent and repeat the day after day.
Speaker 3 (29:23):
Sounds great, Stay fired, Morshall, John Gavin Davin. John Davin,
appreciate it so much. You taking the time tonight and
we hed you up early in the bullpen. You weren't
doing until a forty five. But thanks for your flexibility
and get some rest and hopefully we'll get some rain
in the not too distant future and calm this situation down.
Appreciate it very much.
Speaker 6 (29:42):
John, I sure hope, so I appreciate it. Dan, thank
you for having me all right, great touch.
Speaker 3 (29:46):
So when we get back, we will have our fourth
and final guest, and I believe Dan has been working
on getting us an ACU weather commentator. Correct me if
I'm wrong, Dan, feel free to jump in and tell
me if that's we're working on. That's good. Appreciate, No, appreciate.
We've you talking with Brian Thompson coming up on the
other side of this break, and we'll talk about getting
(30:08):
some relief from all of these fires, and certainly nothing
would do it as much good as a couple of
big rainstorms. We'll see what's on the horizon with Brian
Thompson of ACU Weather back on Nightside right after these messages.
Speaker 1 (30:22):
Now back to Dan Way live from the Window World
night Side Studios on WBZ News Radio.
Speaker 3 (30:30):
We just spoke with the State Fire Marshal John Davin
about forty seven brush fires that are in active somewhere
across Massachusetts. We're delighted to be joined by Brian Thompson
of ACI Weather. Brian, the questions are so obvious. I'm
(30:51):
sure that there's nothing I'm going to ask you that's
going to surprise you. But this is an extraordinary situation
we find ourselves. And when was the last time we
had any really measurable rain in Massachusetts?
Speaker 9 (31:03):
It was about two weeks ago. Dan, it was back
on the thirteenth and fourteenth, we had about a quarter
of an inch of rain. There's really only been just
looking at some of the stats here in Boston, I'm sure,
looking at some of the out sites here, places like Worcestria,
I mean, there's really only been two rain events of
any substantial nature here this month, back on October seventh,
(31:24):
and then from the thirteenth to the fourteenth. Most places
have barely had two thirds of an inch of rain
this entire month. And believe it or not, we've actually
had more rain here that we've had in other parts
of the Northeast. You get down from New York City Philadelphia,
they have not had measurable rain at all this month.
But it has been remarkable just how dry it has
been The average rainfall for the entire month in Boston
(31:46):
is a little over four inches, and we are running
way below that. And if you remember, we got into
assume at least dry periods during the month of September.
We only had a little over an inch of rain then,
so this has been a pretty dry stretch over the
last six to eight weeks.
Speaker 3 (32:02):
Well, I remember down in the Cape, and I believe
it was in either late August maybe early September, there
was a torrential rain about eight inches. That was one
incredible rainstorm. Am I correct in remembering that to be
like late it was sometime in mid to late August.
Speaker 9 (32:22):
Yeah, actually, it may have been mid to late September.
Just looking back here, I see some some rainfall totals
of three to five inches places like Hynis out of
Provincetown too. That was that was a fire call. Correctly,
a very localized event.
Speaker 3 (32:36):
So there was some yes, yes, yes, yes, absolutely right
there back, Yeah, yeah, there was, but that doesn't help,
that doesn't Yeah, that doesn't help other parts of the state.
Speaker 9 (32:50):
No, and the farther west you went with that events,
Certainly it was not as impressive of a rainfall event.
It was like I said, very localized, and since then,
over the past four weeks, we just really haven't added
on much to it. And the additional problem is, naturally,
now that we're heading into late we're at the end
of October, we have a lot of the leaves that
(33:11):
have fallen off the trees, just kind of adding to
the fuel for some of these fires when they do start,
and if you get any wind events, these fires can
spread relatively quickly if they develop.
Speaker 3 (33:22):
What's the next week or so looking like I watched
some of the weather forecast TV weather forecast tonight, and
I know there's some suggestion. I think Wednesday into Thursday
they might be a little bit of rain, but there's
nothing huge in the horizon.
Speaker 9 (33:33):
Correct, Yeah, I think certainly this week we will have
a couple of chances. Here might actually be a chance
here Tomorrow night into Wednesday morning, there's going to be
a warm front pushing on through. After that, it's going
to get pretty warm, but we'll dry out for a
few days. We have another chance with a cold front
coming on Friday, and then potentially as we head into
the first full week of November next week, there's at
(33:56):
least some storm systems on the weather map. It's not
a guarantee they'll move across our area bring us some rain,
but they're at least going to be closer to us,
which over the last couple of weeks really hasn't there
really hasn't been much in the cards at all, just
simply because of just the dominant high pressure that's been
over us for most of the last two weeks. So
at least we're getting into a period pattern where there
(34:16):
will be some opportunities to pick up some rain, although
through the rest of this week I think most of
the rain that we see is going to.
Speaker 3 (34:22):
Be on a light side.
Speaker 9 (34:23):
This first event here Tuesday night Tomorrow night into Wednesday morning,
probably not much more than a tenth of an inch,
maybe two tenths of an inch, But we'll take what
week and get. At this point, we haven't had any
rain really in the last two weeks, so anything will
help at this point.
Speaker 3 (34:37):
And just refreshment, recollection. You may have mentioned this already,
but obviously we've had hardly any rain here in October. Normally,
what do we get, you know, on average across Massachusetts
during the month of October, how many inches?
Speaker 9 (34:52):
It's usually a little round or just a little above
four inches of rain, so we're running a good bit
below that. Obviously, October can be a dry month, but
sometimes sometimes that average number is influenced by some tropical systems.
We can still get pieces of in October. That's more
usually more of a September thing, but sometimes still in
(35:14):
October we can get some tropical moisture coming in. But
we just haven't had any of that. Like I said,
high pressure has been kind of controlling the weather here
of the last couple of weeks, and that's just been
deflecting any chances of rain well away from us.
Speaker 3 (35:28):
I remember one Halloween, I forget what year it was,
we had a pretty good sized snowstorm one Halloween, and
then for the rest of the winter, I don't think
we had a really measurable snow event. Do you recall
this's gotta be like maybe ten, twelve, fifteen years ago.
Speaker 9 (35:47):
Yeah, I don't recall offhand to what year, But we
have had storms in October. We've had them around Halloween
that have brought significant snow, and that always adds an
extra layer of concern because when you have snowfall, and
it's usually a very wet snow when it falls in
October on on trees that have still a lot of
leaves on them. That can cause a lot of problems,
(36:08):
can cause widespread power outages. I do recall a storm again,
it was several years ago, probably five to ten years ago,
that caused all sorts of power outages across So.
Speaker 3 (36:17):
It was a real it was a real snowstorm. And
I also remember in nineteen ninety one, and the reason
I remember that is our daughter had been born earlier
that month, and that was the year of the Perfect Storm,
the big movie that there was such a box office
hit where we had that nor'easter come in late October,
so we could use something like that, maybe not quite
(36:39):
as bad as that, but something. Brian, thank you so much.
We came up one short of one guest tonight, so
we got you up in the bullpen and carry the
baseball analogy. You did a great job for us. Thank
you so much. Okay, yep, thanks Dan, have a good night.
All right, you too. All right, we come back. We're
going to go first of all, when we come back,
(37:01):
we're going to give you a chance. Immediately after the news,
I'll give you a special number to call, and if
you call on number, ten, you're going to win a
couple of tickets to see Celtic Thunder at the Premier
Theater at Foxwoods on November seventh. If you want them now,
don't take them if you're not going to use them.
But we'll talk about that on the other side of
the nine o'clock news, and we will also on the
(37:21):
other side of the nine o'clock news get to our
regularly program. So we're going to talk about this horrific murder,
this horrific road murder. It really was rage and then
it wasn't road rage. And we hope to talk with
District Attorney Pluffick Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz about
(37:41):
this really horrible, horrible event. We'll explain
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