Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is warning that brush fire risk remains high in parts of the state Wednesday, June 18 — a sign that dry conditions haven’t let up despite the approach of summer.
DEEP issued the alert as parched vegetation and low humidity keep fire danger elevated across affected areas. The agency hasn’t specified which regions face the highest exposure, but such warnings typically prompt calls to hold off on any outdoor burning until conditions ease.
What DEEP’s warning means for outdoor burning
Under a high brush fire danger day, open burning — including debris piles, brush, and yard waste — is strongly discouraged and can be restricted outright depending on local conditions. Fires can spread faster than expected when grasses and ground cover are dry, and even a small spark from equipment or a tossed cigarette can get ahead of suppression crews quickly.
Connecticut has seen stretches of below-normal rainfall push fire risk into elevated territory several times in recent years, forcing DEEP to issue these advisories with greater frequency during dry spells in spring and early summer — before heavier foliage fills in and naturally slows fire spread.
DEEP’s brush fire risk designations run from low to extreme. Wednesday’s high rating sits two levels below the most severe category, meaning conditions are dangerous but not yet at their worst. Still, the agency’s guidance is clear: don’t light fires outdoors if you don’t have to.
Whether the warning will be extended into Thursday hadn’t been announced as of Tuesday evening.
Reporting by CT Insider. Read the original report.
