Jessica Bravo
Journal Inquirer, Manchester, Conn.
(TNS)
Nov. 11—As nine brush fires ignited over the weekend and a total of 82 are being monitored statewide, traces of overnight rain are not expected to provide much relief amid Connecticut’s historic drought.
The Tolland County area got the most rain overnight, between 0.27 and 0.29 inches, the National Weather Service’s Boston office said. The smallest amount received was in 0.09 inches in the central area of the state, the office said.
In addition, for the first time in weeks, the NWS did not have an elevated risk of brush fire warning or red flag warning issued for Connecticut on Monday.
Candice Hrencecin, a NWS meteorologist, said there was no rain in the upcoming forecast, which could continue to contribute to the state’s extremely dry conditions.
“So unfortunately, the rain (from overnight) didn’t really do too much,” Hrencecin said. “It was very good to see it, but it didn’t really do, like what we would want to see to actually put a dent in any of the drought or fire conditions that we’ve been having.”
Even though the rain did not help with overall conditions, Hrencecin said the precipitation did prevent any type of elevated risk of wildfire warning to be issued on Monday. She said the risk of wildfires is also not elevated Monday due to “higher general relative humidity.”
Hrencecin said the elevated risk of brush fires warning will likely be in effect Tuesday and the rest of the week, but the NWS will not know for sure until the agency speaks with “state fire partners.”
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The drought the state is facing, according to Gov. Ned Lamont, could get worse due to the continuous dry conditions. Over the weekend, Lamont said everyone should also be mindful of their water consumption, especially after officials determined the state is in a Stage 2 drought.
Last month, Lamont declared a state emergency due to the most brush fires the state has seen in history. In addition, numerous officials from the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection said more than 110 brush fires have occurred in the past several weeks.
DEEP spokesperson Will Healey said Sunday that 82 brush fires continued to be monitored and nine ignited over the weekend. Healey did not give locations for each of the nine active fires.
One brush fire broke out early Saturday morning in Norwich, according to officials. The fire caused North Street apartments to be evacuated, but no one was injured.
The Norwich Fire Department said the blaze caused minimal damage to the exterior of the apartment building and was quickly put under control by responding firefighters.
Officials said at least two other fires broke out Saturday morning: one at Centennial Watershed State Forest in Redding and another on West Purchase Road in Southbury.
The Redding Fire & EMS Company No. 1 said the fire was 2.5 acres and damaged power lines. They added that steep terrain and gusty winds made the fire difficult to control, but firefighters were eventually able to contain the blaze.
There was little information on the 4-acre large brush fire in Southbury. But, local fire department did say multiple agencies, including DEEP, responded to the flames.
On Saturday night, the Northfield Volunteer Fire Company said a mile-large brush fire was active in Northfield and Harwinton.
The fire company said it was a difficult fight due to “very steep terrain and size of the fire at the top of the hill spreading quickly east.” About 60 firefighters from surrounding departments helped in putting out the flames, the company said. Within four hours, the company said firefighters were able to clear the scene.
“Our state is a tinderbox,” Lamont said last month. “Everything is incredibly flammable. Anytime a dry leaf falls, it’s fuel for flames. … What we need is rain.”
Residents were urged by Healey to use extreme caution when handling any type of embers or ash, using outdoor machinery, and when disposing cigarettes.
Josh Cingranelli, who is a meteorologist and regional coordinator with the Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, also said the state needed more than light rain.
“We are going to need a soaking, soaking rain (to aid in the state’s dry conditions),” Cingranelli said.
Kristie Smith, a meteorologist with the weather service, said September and October only had about an inch of rain, when it should normally have 8 to 9 inches.
The weather service did not have any additional rain in the forecast for the rest of the week as of Monday morning.
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