Forest Fire Danger “Very High” in Connecticut on Saturday

The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has these fire prevention and safety tips.

Open burning is forbidden, even with permits, on Saturday because the forest fire danger is very high in Connecticut and the National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning because of wind and humidity, according to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).

"Very high" is the second highest fire danger level, according to DEEP. All open burning permits are suspended while the fire danger is high and DEEP cautions residents to be careful with outdoor cooking fires.

“Residents need to know that any permit to burn brush is not valid when the Forest Fire Danger is rated high, very high, or extreme,” DEEP Deputy Commissioner Susan Whalen said in a statement. “Anyone spotting a forest fire should remain calm and dial 911 to report the fire as quickly as possible to the local fire Department.”

A red flag warning is typically issued when winds are expected to be constant, gusts are predicted to surpass a threshold of about 25 miles an hour, humidity is below 30 percent and the precipitation has been less than a quarter-inch within the past five days, according to DEEP. The warning is effective between noon and 8 p.m., DEEP said.

"Early spring time weather typically includes daily changes in forest fire danger and can easily catch residents off guard. While many experienced scattered showers with occasional pockets of moderate but brief rain yesterday, relative humidity in the low teens and strong winds quickly dry residual dead or cured vegetation from the previous winter to create ground conditions very conducive for fire ignition and spread," DEEP said in a news release. "These daily variations will last until forest under growth greens during May."

With winds gusting up to at least 30 miles an hour Saturday afternoon, controlling fires will be more of a challenge, according to DEEP.

The Division of Forestry at DEEP monitors forest fire danger "to help protect Connecticut's 1.8 million acres of forest land," DEEP said.

DEEP gives the following tips to help Connecticut residents prevent fires:

  • To make the area around your home "fire safe," clear any vegetation and debris that is flammable in a 30-foot radius around your house. 
  • Trim lower branches on evergreens near your house because that type of tree burns quickly.
  • Cut any branches that hang over your roof or chimney.
  • Clean leaves and needles from your gutters.
  • Don't store firewood in your fire safe zone.
  • Outfit your house with fire-resistant roofing materials.
  • Make your home ease for firefighters to locate and access by ensuring your home is marked clearly and clearing branches and trees along your driveway that would make it difficult for a fire truck to fit.
  • Form an escape plan and practice it.
  • Abide by state and municipal open burning laws.
  • Supervise outdoor fires until they are completely safe and extinguished.
  • Throw out wood ashes into a metal bucket and soak the ashes in water before dumping them out.

Here are some other fire safety tips when visiting Connecticut’s parks, forests, and open space:

  • Obey local open fire laws, including campfires
  • Make sure to keep flammable objects away from fire
  • Keep firefighting tools nearby.
  • Dispose of hot charcoal very carefully.
  • Pour water on fires to extinguish them when you're done.
  • Make sure to extinguish materials that are smoking cautiously. 
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