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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07/19/2021

Bodies of Two Missing Teens Recovered from Farmington River

(HARTFORD)—The bodies of two teens missing since last Thursday, 15-year-old Lucas Brewer, of Plainville, and 17-year-old Anthony Nagore, who was from out-of-state, were found today in the Farmington River, by Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Environmental Conservation Police, with assistance from several agencies.

The bodies were recovered just north of the Route 4 bridge over Route 179, approximately a mile from where the teens are believed to have entered the river. The State Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine cause and manner of death.

The young men had been missing since Thursday night, after family alerted authorities that they had not returned home. Plainville Police issued a Silver Alert on Thursday evening for the missing teens. Their vehicle was found on School Street in Avon, near the Farmington River. Personal belongings, including their cell phones, sneakers and clothing, were also found.

The search was halted around midnight Thursday, and resumed Friday morning. Searching continued until around 3:30 on Friday, when incoming thunderstorms halted the search for the day. The search resumed on both Saturday and Sunday morning, but each day, the search was forced to end before noon due to dangerous water conditions.

Today, DEEP met with the Army Corps of Engineers to formulate a plan to reduce the water level enough in hopes that levels would drop in time to resume a water-based search by the end of the week. In the course of a land-based search today, officers were able to locate both bodies in close proximity to each other on the river.

DEEP extends its condolences to the families and friends of Lucas and Anthony, and ask that the privacy of the families be respected at this difficult time. DEEP would also like to thank all of the agencies that worked tirelessly over several days on the search effort, and lent resources, including Connecticut State Police, Farmington Police and Fire, Plainville Police, Burlington Police and Fire, Avon Police and Fire, and the town of New Milford, which provided helicopter support.

High water levels continue, creating a dangerous situation on the water, on the Farmington River and at water bodies across the state. DEEP is urging caution for anyone using water bodies in Connecticut for recreation, including swimming, boating, fishing, kayaking and canoeing. Water levels will remain high this week, and dangerous conditions should be expected.

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Contact

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