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

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10/18/2017

Newtown Man Arrested on Charges Related to Fatal Boating Collision on Lake Zoar this Summer

A 55-year old Newtown man has been arrested by Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Environmental Conservation (EnCon) Police on charges related to a fatal boating collision on Lake Zoar this summer.
Mark Rudzinski faces a variety of charges in connection with the collision that killed Randall Pineau, a 52-year old Sandy Hook man on July 11.  Pineau was operating a pontoon boat on the lake in the area of Mohawk Trail in Sandy Hook, when his vessel was hit by a ski boat operated by Rudzinski.
EnCon Police charged Rudzinski with violations of CGS.15-131(7), Rules for preventing collisions and failure to keep proper lookout; and CGS.15-140k, Reckless boating, first degree.
Rudzinski was released on a $5,000 non-surety bond and is scheduled to appear in Waterbury Superior Court on October 31.
After the collision, which took place at around 9:30 p.m., Pineau was taken by ambulance to Danbury Hospital, where he was pronounced dead .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 operated by Pineau and two on the ski boat operated by Rudzinski.
 
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