Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

Emergency Burn Ban In Effect 10/26/24 - An emergency burn ban is now in effect for all Connecticut State Parks, Forests, and Wildlife Management areas, prohibiting the use of all outdoor grills, firepits, and campfires, and the kindling and use of flame outdoors. DEEP and local agencies are working to contain several active fires across the state. Please avoid all affected State Parks and Forests, as well as the blue-blazed Mattabesett Trail. The Enduro Trail in Voluntown and portions of North Stonington within the Pachaug State Forest are closed at this time. Please note that today's forest fire danger report remains at an 'extreme' level. More information about the current fire danger, burn ban and recommended safety measures can be found here

Press Releases

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08/28/2017

DEEP Releases Additional Information on Weekend Boating Fatalities in New Haven Harbor

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Environmental Conservation (EnCon) Police have released additional information on a boating incident in New Haven harbor that took the lives of two Fairfield men over the weekend.
EnCon Police said the identities of the two victims are:
  • Michael Murphy, DOB 2/5/64, of Fairfield
  • Scott Trautman, DOB 4/22/71, Fairfield
EnCon Police say that the two were aboard Murphy’s 32-foot 2017 Sea Fox power boat heading south in New Haven Harbor during the evening hours Saturday. 
At some point, Murphy’s vessel struck the north side of the west break wall in the harbor area. Both Murphy and Trautman were ejected from the vessel and sustained fatal injuries.
Trautman was recovered by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) New Haven on the break wall on 8/27/2017 and pronounced dead at the scene.  Murphy’s body was recovered Sunday night by the CT State Police Dive Team and he was also pronounced dead.
The vessel was recovered from the breakwall.  Both Trautman and Murphy were transported to the State Medical Examiner’s office in Farmington.  EnCon Police are still actively investigating the incident.
Other agencies that were involved in the search were:  New Haven PD and FD; West Haven PD and FD; Milford PD, FD; West Haven Harbormaster; Sea Tow.
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