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

DEEP News Release Header

08/14/2020

Media Availability: 10-person Group of Firefighters Returns Home Today from Fighting California Wildfire

A 10-person group of trained wildland firefighters will return to Connecticut today after spending the last few weeks in the Modoc National Forest area in northeastern California.

The group is expected to return to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s (DEEP) Eastern District Headquarters, 209 Hebron Road, Marlborough between 12:15 p.m.-1 p.m.

The group, which left Connecticut on July 24th, includes two DEEP staff members: Western Connecticut Fire Control Officer Amy Burgess, and Justin Wiggins, an Environmental Analyst with DEEP’s Fisheries Division. Other crew members include one State of Rhode Island forestry employee. The rest are private sector fire fighters.

The crew members are:

Last name

First name

City

State

Arnold

Ben

Pomfret Center

CT

Burgess

Amy

South Meriden

CT

Flamio

Anthony

Farmington

CT

Hussey

Farrah

Mansfield

CT

Kronick

Michael

Stratford

CT

Moffat

John

Guilford

CT

Morrisey

Jed

Higganum

CT

Rossiter

Brian

Groton

MA

Shafer

Emily

Madison

CT

Wiggins

Justin

Newington

CT

 

DEEP maintains a roster of agency staff members and personnel who have been certified to fight forest or wildfires.  Crew members must complete a rigorous training program and participate in an annual physical work capacity test and refresher training.  

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. All state agency expenses directly associated with these deployments are 100% reimbursed to the State by the U.S. Forest Service.

The group assembled at DEEP’s Eastern District Headquarters July 24. It followed USDA Forest Service COVID-19 protocols, including pre-screening for COVID-19, and daily COVID-19 screening upon arrival and throughout the assignment. The crew will follow post-deployment demobilization procedures and safety protocols upon return.

 

What: Wildfire group returns home

When: Friday, August 14, between 12:15 p.m.-1 p.m.

Where: DEEP Eastern District Headquarters, 209 Hebron Road, Marlborough

Other information:

The designated parking area for Media will be in front of the gate, parking by the brown house. DO NOT go through the gate.

 

 More at: www.ct.gov/DEEP | Follow on Facebook at CTDEEP| Follow on Twitter @CTDEEPNews, @CTStateParks 

 

Twitter: @CTDEEPNews
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Contact

DEEP Communications  
DEEP.communications@ct.gov
860-424-3110