NFFPC

Connecticut's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Division of Forestry, constantly monitors the danger of forest fire to help protect Connecticut's 1.8 million acres of forested land.  For more information on fire safety, contact DEEP’s Forestry Division at (860) 424-3630.

For those who enjoy the use of Connecticut’s parks, forests, and open spaces, use fires with caution and follow these recommendations:

• Obey local laws regarding open fires, including campfires;

• Keep all flammable objects away from fire;

• Have firefighting tools nearby and handy;

• Carefully dispose of hot charcoal;

• Drown all fires;

• Extinguish smoking materials with caution.

DEEP encourages residents of Connecticut to protect their families and homes from forest fire by:

• Making a fire safe zone around your house. Clean flammable vegetation and debris from at least 30 feet around the house and any outbuildings;

• Pruning away the lower limbs of evergreens that are within the fire safe zone. Evergreens catch fire easily during dry periods and burn quickly;

• Removing any limbs which overhang the roof or chimney;

• Regularly removing leaves and needles from gutters;

• Not storing firewood in the fire safe zone;

• Using fire resistant roofing materials;

• Making sure firefighters can find and access your home. Mark your house and roads clearly and prune away limbs and trees along your driveway which do not allow fire truck access;

• Having an escape plan and practicing it;

• Following state and local open burning laws;

• Staying with outside fires until they are completely safe and dead out; and

• Disposing of wood ashes in a metal bucket, soaking them with water before dumping them.