BOXFORD — Boxford, Topsfield and Groveland firefighters responded about 2:30 p.m. after a series of grass fires sprang up along Interstate 95 north.
Boxford Fire Chief Brian Geiger said his department responded at about 2:30 p.m. to the series of small, mostly grass fires along the breakdown lane between Endicott Street and Route 97.
There appeared to have been 11 smaller grass fires, some of which had merged into larger ones, along the northbound breakdown lane of I-95, he said.
The cause of the fires remained undetermined, but he does not believe they were intentional, Geiger said.
They were more likely, he said, to have been caused by a dragging chain, exhaust pipe or muffler part sparking as it was dragged along the pavement at highway speeds.
Topsfield Fire Chief Jen Collins-Brown confirmed the account given by Geiger.
“We saw the fire and we put it out,” she said. “But it was a good reminder to drivers of how dry everything is and not to toss cigarette butts out of the window.”
The Groveland fire chief and two engines were also dispatched to the northern end of the scene.
With the flames extinguished, all departments returned to quarters about one hour later.
Fire departments from Georgetown, Middleton and Danvers covered for the involved departments during that time.