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

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12/01/2023

EnCon Police Make Arrest in Fatal Boating Accident

(HARTFORD) — The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Environmental Conservation (EnCon) Police arrested an individual in connection with the fatal boating accident that occurred on July 10, 2022, on the Connecticut River in Portland. An extensive investigation was conducted by EnCon officers and the department’s Boating Accident Reconstruction Unit (BARU) leading to the arrest.

On Friday, December 1, 2023, the Connecticut Superior Court in Middletown issued an arrest warrant for Kerry Sheltra (DOB: 08/27/68) of Rocky Hill, CT. He was subsequently arrested and processed by the EnCon Police and released on a $50,000 bond.

Sheltra was charged with the following: one count of CGS 53a-56(a)(1) Manslaughter in the Second Degree, three counts of CGS 53a-60(a)(3) Assault in the Second Degree, and two counts of CGS 53-21(a)(1) Risk of Injury to a Minor.

He is expected to be at court on December 7, 2023, at Geographical Area Court 9 in Middletown.

At approximately 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 10, 2022, the Portland Fire Department and EnCon Police responded to a report of a serious boating accident in the Connecticut River just north of Petzolds Marina. The investigation determined that eight individuals were on board the vessel that Sheltra was operating when it collided with shore. The collision resulted in the death of one adult on board. Two people on board sustained serious life-altering injuries, and three others were treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

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