(WFSB) – Governor Ned Lamont declared a state of emergency Friday due to extremely dry conditions and lack of precipitation in Connecticut, which have increased the risk of wildfires across the state.

“Over the past two months, Connecticut has experienced extremely dry conditions and a lack of rain, which has increased the fire risk and caused several fires to ignite across the state,” said Governor Lamont .

The declaration is intended to equip state and local emergency management officials with the tools needed to monitor fire threats, respond to active incidents and deal with any new fires that may arise.

The governor strongly urged all residents to avoid burning outdoors, noting the increased fire risk.

At a recent press conference, Lamont also announced that FEMA reimbursement had been extended to cover some of the costs associated with suppressing the bushfires.

Lamont mentioned during his Monday press conference that FEMA reimbursement has been extended to cover the costs of bushfire suppression efforts.

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has banned the use of outdoor flames due to severe fire weather conditions.

This restriction includes outdoor barbecues, fire pits, campfires and any use of flames in national parks, forests and wildlife management areas.

As multiple agencies respond to bushfires across the state, emergency crews continue to battle a bushfire that lasted six days in Berlin.

Residents are advised to avoid areas with active fires, and a no-fly zone has been established to aid firefighting efforts.

DEEP reports that most wildfires in Connecticut are caused by human activities.

Even a small spark can start a forest fire under these conditions. Common sources of ignition include:

• Discarded smoking materials
  
• ATV and UTV activity especially without a spark arrestor
  
• Trailer chain dragging
  
• Use of outdoor barbecues
  
• Campfires
  
• Power tools and equipment that generate heat or sparks
  

“These conditions pose a real and immediate threat to Connecticut communities,” said DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes. “We need every resident and visitor to understand that their actions have a direct impact on the safety of their neighbors, firefighters and natural areas. »

Dykes also recommended using battery-operated flames in Jack-O-Lanterns instead of real candles.

Connecticut remains at VERY HIGH to EXTREME fire risk, with no rain forecast for the coming week to improve conditions.

For more information on fire hazards and wildfire prevention, visit Forest Fire Prevention Page on the DEEP website or contact the DEEP fire danger hotline at 860-424-3929.

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