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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07/12/2017

Sandy Hook Man Pronounced Dead After Boating Collision on Lake Zoar Tuesday Night

A 52-year old Sandy Hook man was pronounced dead at Danbury Hospital Tuesday night after the vessel he was operating on Lake Zoar was struck by another vessel, according to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Environmental Conservation (EnCon) Police.
Randall Pineau of Waterveiw Drive, Sandy Hook, was operating a pontoon boat on the lake in the area of the Mohawk Trail in Sandy Hook, when his vessel was hit by a ski boat at around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Pineau was taken to Danbury Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, by the Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps.  His wife, Katherine who suffered minor injuries, was also transported to that hospital where she was treated and released.
There were a total of six people aboard the two vessels – four on the pontoon boat and two on the ski boat.  One other person suffered minor injuries and refused treatment at the scene.
Assisting EnCon Police at the scene were the Newtown Police Department, Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire Department, Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Lake Zoar Marine Patrol , and the Connecticut State Police. 
The ENCON Boating Accident Reconstruction Unit (BARU) is continuing to investigate the accident.
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