Press Releases
03/15/2021
Fire Danger Level Remains High as NOAA Issues Red Flag Warning for Parts of CT
Warning Issued for North Central and Northeast CT with Strong Winds and Low Humidity Expected
The fire danger level in Connecticut remains high today, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued a red flag warning across much of Southern New England, including North Central and Northeast Connecticut, through 5 p.m. this evening.
A red flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions are expected, with strong winds and low relative humidity in the forecast. Any fires that start may spread rapidly and become difficult to extinguish.
In Connecticut, the red flag warning was issued for Hartford, Tolland, and Windham counties. It was also issued for all of Rhode Island, and Massachusetts from the east slopes of the Berkshires east through the remainder of the state, for locations where a snow pack no longer exists.
Connecticut traditionally experiences high forest fire danger in the Spring from mid-March through May. High winds during this time dry surface fuels and can drive fire to spread quickly.
We’ve had a busy start to the Spring fire season, with several brush fires breaking out around the state in the past few days. DEEP Forestry and Parks staff were called to assist local fire departments on two separate fires yesterday, in Southbury and Meriden. The Southbury fire was about 30 acres in size as of Friday evening. Both fires were contained Friday evening, and DEEP staff have returned to both sites today to monitor conditions and assist local fire personnel as needed.
DEEP's Division of Forestry constantly monitors the danger of forest fire to help protect Connecticut's 1.8 million acres of forested land. Throughout the Spring forest fire season, DEEP sends daily advisories on forest fire danger levels to DEEP's state park forest field staff, municipalities, fire departments and the media. Forest fire danger levels are classified at low, moderate, high, very high or extreme. In an average year approximately 500 acres of Connecticut woodland are burned by forest fires. You can sign up to receive the daily Forest Fire Danger Report here.
It’s especially important to exercise caution during these periods when forest fire danger levels increase. It’s important to obey local laws regarding open fires, carefully dispose of hot charcoal, and completely extinguish smoking materials. Go here for more forest fire prevention tips.
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