The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announced that five members of Connecticut’s fire crew are returning home to Connecticut today. The crew is anticipated to arrive at approximately 8:15 p.m. at DEEP Eastern District Headquarters, 209 Hebron Road, Marlborough. Media members are welcome to attend.

The five trained and certified crew members consist of one Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management employee and four other local residents and firefighters.  These firefighters were part of a 20 person regional interagency firefighting crew that left on Wednesday, August 15th and have been working in Montana on the Wigwam Fire and the Gold Hill Fire.  The two fires total approximately 7,600 acres. 

Earlier this week DEEP sent a wildland fire engine and a three person engine crew to California to assist with firefighting efforts there.  The engine is assigned to the Ferguson Fire, in Oakhurst, California.  The Ferguson Fire is 96,901 acres, and has been in the news recently due to the fire location in Yosemite National Park, and the two firefighter fatalities associated with the fire.

This is the fourth time Connecticut is sending resources west this summer.

   
DEEP maintains a roster of agency staff members and personnel from local fire departments who have been certified to fight forest or wildfires.  Crew members must complete a rigorous training program and participate in an annual renewal course.

Connecticut maintains this firefighting capability to participate in a reciprocal aid program operated by the U.S. Forest Service.  Under this program, trained personnel from other parts of the nation are available to assist Connecticut in the event of a fire emergency or other natural disaster in return for the support of Connecticut personnel when needed.

Over 6.8 million acres has been burned so far this year across the United States due to wildland fires.