REGIONAL

The State of Connecticut has declared a state of emergency due to a “critical” and “dangerously high” fire risk which is currently being observed as a result of dry weather conditions. Middlesex County has been designated as having a “very high” risk of fire activity, and the Essex Fire Department is asking residents to take this threat seriously.

Fire Marshal John Planas said that Middlesex County is already experiencing an increase in brush fires and that “any small spark can lead to a significant fire.”

Planas said the combination of “very dry conditions” due to a rain drought and breezy conditions are “basically a recipe for disaster” when it comes to fires starting up in the area.

With the fall being a very dry time of the year with dry vegetation, these factors add up to the season being a more of a high-risk time for fires than during the summer or spring. This is why the fire department is asking that local residents take a serious approach to the burn ban.

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has stated that “the vast majority of Connecticut's wildfires result from human activities” such as campfires, bonfires, cigarettes discarded on the ground, and the use of yard-care equipment. The Essex Fire Department is asking for these types of fires to be completely avoided, as their severity can be exacerbated by windy conditions.

“With the dry conditions and the leaves, it doesn’t take much to ignite a big brush fire, especially in Essex, where we have a lot of homes, and we’ve got a lot of land that can create the perfect atmosphere for these types of fires,” Planas said.

Residents should also be diligent when doing yardwork while surrounded by two specific ignition sources of fire. This includes leaves, which can act as natural ignitors of fire; and yard-care equipment, said the fire marshal

“They’re using power equipment that can also act as an ignition source,” said Planas. “Case in point—if you’re using a tractor and people are pushing leaves with a tractor, sometimes those leaves get piled up in front of the muffler and can also cause a fire.”

“It could be a smoldering fire where, once you push those leaves in the corner and you go on to do other leaves, that fire can start immediately, as it's insulated by the other leaves,” Planas continued. “That's something that we're seeing right now.”

While barbecue grills are not specifically mentioned as part of the state’s warning, Planas said that “we strongly advise” residents not to use them since “any embers coming from that barbecue can also spark a fire.” The use of chimeneas and candles while outdoors is also strongly discouraged.

According to Planas, any penalties issued by the town in regard to this issue will directly reflect the severity of the situation. The town will issue a citation of “up to $250” for the first violation of the burn ban “because it’s so serious,” said the fire marshal.

Planas said the burn ban should be lifted by the state and then by the town once rainfall starts back up again. Due to the uncertainty of when the next rain will arrive, additional crew and utility trucks in Essex will “stand ready to respond to any reports of brush fires,” said Planas. Crews and trucks have been equipped with extra pumps on vehicles, along with forest fire gear.

The fire department has engaged with the public online to inform them more thoroughly about the situation, including social media posts and notifications through the town’s Community Connect program—a platform with which most Essex residents are already involved, said Planas.