Northampton, Amherst and Hadley are among area communities that have lifted the outdoor burning ban that has been in effect for most of November.

The ban was enacted during drought-like conditions that set the stage for numerous brush fires — including one in the Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area of Northampton that charred more than 50 acres in early November — but the recent wet weather and cooler temperatures have greatly reduced the danger.

Northampton Fire Chief Andrew Pelis issued a message Tuesday that he would be lifting the temporary restrictions.

“As the cooler temperatures, higher relative humidity and precipitation move across our area, the extreme risk of outdoor fires spreading and growing quickly has declined significantly,” Pelis wrote in the message. “I would like to thank everyone for their efforts during this unprecedented dry season.”

In Hadley, the outdoor burning ban was rescinded by Fire Chief Michael Spanknebel on Monday. But he urged that people remain cautious.

“While the recent rainfall has mitigated the fire danger temporarily, the state continues to experience drought conditions,” Spanknebel wrote. “Residents are urged to refrain from outdoor burning if possible, and to use extreme caution if burning is necessary.”

Before the ban concluded in Amherst, the Amherst Fire Department fielded some calls from residents who intended to cook their Thanksgiving turkeys outside their homes, leading to the question of whether it was advisable for the cooking to instead be done inside their garages. Now they will be in the clear to do the cooking outdoors, though they were reminded to keep grills or fryers distant from buildings.

The state fire marshal’s office, in fact, issued an alert, observing that 705 Thanksgiving Day residential fires took place across the state from 2019 to 2023, more than double the day with the next most residential fires, with 318 occurring on Christmas Eve.

Last year in Massachusetts, Thanksgiving Day cooking fires increased by 26%, from 103 to 130, injured one resident and one firefighter, and caused $1.3 million in damage.

Fire safety experts also strongly discourage the use of outdoor gas-fueled turkey fryers where the bird is immersed in hot oil. Instead, the suggestion is to use oil-less turkey fryers.

Even with the outdoor burning ban over for now, people should still use caution with lawnmowers, leaf blowers, all-terrain vehicles and other power equipment, as hot engines, sparks and spilled gasoline can ignite dry leaves and grass. 

People are also reminded to dispose of ashes from fireplaces and wood stoves in a metal can, douse them with water and cover them with a tight-fitting lid. Improper disposal of ashes was blamed for a brush fire in Leverett this month, while a brush fire on the Orchard Hill section of the University of Massachusetts campus in Amherst was likely caused by smoking materials.