New Canaan Fire Marshal Offers Forest, Brush Fire Prevention Tips

NEW CANAAN, CT — New Canaan Fire Marshal Paul Payne, in conjunction with National Fire Prevention Week, has provided a list of tips from the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection to increase awareness and prevention of forest and brush fires.

When visiting state or community parks, remember the following when creating a campfire:

• Obey local laws regarding open fires, including campfires.
• Keep all flammable objects away from fire. Scrape away leaves, twigs, and grass within a 10-foot diameter circle from fire.
• Have firefighting tools nearby and handy.
• Never leave a fire unattended.
• Carefully dispose of hot charcoal.
• Drown all fires.

Equally important are the steps residents can take to protect their home from the possibility of starting or being involved in a wildfire scenario:

• Make a fire safe zone around your house. Clean flammable vegetation and debris from at least 30 feet around the house and any outbuildings.
• Prune away the lower limbs of evergreens that are within the fire safe zone. Evergreens catch fire easily during dry periods and burn quickly.
• Remove any limbs which overhang the roof or chimney.
• Regularly remove leaves and needles from gutters.
• Do not store firewood in the fire safe zone.
• Use fire resistant roofing materials.
• Make 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.
• Have an escape plan and practice it.
• Follow state and local open burning laws.
• Stay with outside fires until they are completely safe and dead out. Dispose of wood ashes in a metal bucket, soaking them with water before dumping them.

Additional forest fire prevention tips are available here; more information about brush fires in Connecticut can be found here.