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EAST LYME, CT (WFSB) – Firefighters in Connecticut are battling numerous wildfires that broke out across the state this weekend.
Rocky Neck State Park is currently closed until further notice as firefighters battle a brush fire that has expanded from five acres to approximately 46 acres. The fire broke out around noon on Saturday.
Connecticut State Parks announced the closure on their X account (formerly Twitter).
According to Deputy Chief Erik Quinn of the East Lyme Fire Department, firefighters face challenges reaching the fire on the trails due to difficult terrain.
State fire control officials say the fire is quite active in a rocky, remote area closer to Mount Laurel.
Local firefighting teams are on scene, with assistance from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).
DEEP has indicated that it may take several days before the park reopens.
“Without rain, the terrain becomes drier and the leaves are like walking on chips. Fires burn with three things: heat, fuel and oxygen. The wind adds more oxygen and creates a bigger fire, allowing the fire to spread much faster,” said Connecticut Fire Officer Rich Schenk.
Eduardo Silva did not expect to see clouds of smoke during his afternoon bike ride through the park.
“It was right across the path, the white path,” he said.
At one point he even tried to fight the fire himself.
“I tried to stake it out with some green branches, but it got too big for me, so I just had to leave. It spread quickly because it became windy,” he continued.
Emergency officials also say significant progress has been made in the fight against the worst fire on record 127 hectares burned on the Klaagzangberg in Berlin.
Berlin Fire Chief Jonn Massirio says crews have secured about 50% of fire lines and the goal is to reach 100% by the end of the week.
“Our drop tanks, our hose lines and all our equipment will remain in place up there, crews can bring over more of that mop face mid-week where we’ll go in and dig up areas for more patrol,” he said.
He also says he hopes to move operations into a monitoring phase by the middle of next week. Ground crews will be reduced, but both DEEP and municipal staff will make trips up the mountain to make sure nothing flares up.
Several houses were also destroyed by fire last weekend.
One was in Roxbury, where environmental officials confirmed a house had been destroyed.
In Orange, an outbuilding, supplies and equipment were destroyed by a fire surrounding it Dogburn Road on Friday.
Schenk also said the number of fires being monitored in the state has increased to 111.
As the fires rage, officials continue to remind residents what they can do to prevent fires in their homes.
“If you have a tree line in your backyard, you want to make sure it is at least 30 to 50 feet from your home. You don’t want trees coming into your home that could spread fire into your home or potentially hot ash from your chimney or fireplace starting a forest fire,” Massirio said.
Stay tuned to Channel 3 News for the latest updates as more information becomes available.
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