Press Release, Town of North Branford

October 26, 2024: The North Branford Fire Marshal’s Office, the Local Burning Officials for the Town of North Branford have instituted an emergency burn ban effective immediately, with the issuing of burn permits suspended, and those already with permits required to not burn over the course of the next 14 days. Residents are asked not to burn any brush on their property, or operate any outdoor grills, firepits, campfires etc. until the conclusion of the ban.

The State of Connecticut is under a “Red Flag” alert with extremely dry conditions and lack of rain which will continue at least over the next ten days, creating high risk for the ignition and spread of wildfires. Governor Ned Lamont has declared a State of Emergency due to the critical fire weather conditions, with a large brush fire having ignited at Lamentation Mountain in Berlin and Meriden this week, and state and local agencies working to suppress several other fire incidents that have been sparked statewide. The State Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has also instituted a burn ban at all Connecticut State Parks, Forests, and Wildlife Management areas.

Residents are asked to be vigilant concerning the following activities which are the most common causes of wildfire ignition: discarded smoking materials; ATV and UTV activity especially without spark arresters; dragging trailer chains; use of outdoor grills; campfires; power tools and equipment that generate heat or sparks.