North Branford​ Fire Marshal​, Officials Declare Emergency Burn Ban

NORTH BRANFORD, CT — The North Branford Fire Marshal’s Office, the Local Burning Officials for the Town of North Branford have instituted an emergency burn ban effective immediately, Town Manager Michael Downes said. He noted that the issuing of burn permits is suspended, and "those already with permits required to not burn over the course of the next 14 days," Downes said.

Residents are asked not to burn any brush on their property, or operate any outdoor grills, fire-pits, campfires and the like until the ban is lifted, Downes said.

North Branford residents are asked to be vigilant concerning the following activities, which are the most common causes of wildfire ignition:

• Discarded smoking materials
• ATV and UTV activity, especially without spark arresters
• Dragging trailer chains
• Use of outdoor grills
• Campfires
• Power tools and equipment that generate heat or sparks

The state is under a Red Flag alert with extremely dry conditions and lack of rain, which will continue at least over the next 10 days, Downes noted, creating a high risk for the ignition and spread of wildfires.

"Gov. Ned Lamont has declared a State of Emergency due to the critical fire weather conditions, with a large brush fire having ignited at Lamentation Mountain in Berlin and Meriden this week, and state and local agencies working to suppress several other fire incidents that have been sparked statewide," Downes wrote. "The State Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has also instituted a burn ban at all Connecticut State Parks, Forests, and Wildlife Management areas."