Connecticut has three forest fire seasons: spring fire season, normally mid-March to mid-May; summer fire season, normally mid-May through September; and fall fire season, normally October through snowfall.
The spring forest fire season can be particularly challenging, as the leaves on the trees have yet to form, allowing the warm spring sun to heat and dry out the forest fuels. Forest fire fuels are made up of anything that burns: grasses, leaves, twigs, branches, etc. Forest fire fuels are categorized by the length of time it takes them to dry out to atmospheric conditions; grasses, twigs, and small branches are referred to as “1-hour fuels,” meaning that even after a rainfall event, these fuels can reach the atmospheric relative humidity within an hour.
The weather has a significant impact on how the Fire Danger is determined; Wind, the most important factor as it dries out fuels and drives the fire. Relative humidity affects the fuel's moisture and precipitation. The Fire Danger often fluctuates in the spring with the weather.
The majority of wildfires in Connecticut are caused by improper burning of debris, arson, campfires, and discarded wood ashes and equipment. Always obey local laws regarding open fires (apply for open burning permits), use caution when having a campfire, keep all flammable objects away from fire, have a water source and tools readily available to extinguish a fire, never leave a fire unattended, carefully dispose of hot ashes, and extinguish and dispose of smoking materials appropriately.
You can prepare your home for the forest fire season by cleaning flammable vegetation and debris at least 30 feet away from your home. Prune away lower limbs of evergreens as evergreens catch fire easily during dry periods, remove leaves and needles from the roof and gutters, and do not store firewood near your home. It is imperative that your home can be easily identified so first responders can quickly locate you - make sure your house numbers are visible from the street, reflective or well-lit, and at least 4” tall.
You can check the daily forest Fire Danger level at the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s website https://portal.ct.gov/deep/forestry/forest-fire/forest-fire-danger-report.
If you spot a forest fire, call 911.
