Connecticut traditionally experiences high forest fire danger in the Spring from mid-March through May.

DEP's Division of Forestry constantly monitors the danger of forest fire to help protect Connecticut's 1.8 million acres of forested land.

Throughout the Spring forest fire season, DEP sends daily advisories on forest fire danger levels to DEP's state park forest field staff, municipalities, fire departments and the media. Forest fire danger levels are classified at low, moderate, high, very high or extreme. In an average year approximately 1,300 acres of Connecticut woodland are scorched by forest fires.

If you spot a forest fire, remain calm, go to the nearest telephone and dial 911 to report the fire as quickly as possible to your local fire department. Calmly tell the emergency dispatcher when you saw it and where you saw it. Stay on the telephone until the dispatcher tells you to hang up.

For more information, visit the DEP website by clicking here.

Most fires in the home start in the kitchen. Over the past few weeks, the City of Torrington has seen a rise in calls for kitchen and stove fires. To prevent a fire of this nature from starting in your home, please follow these few easy-to-remember guidelines while cooking.

Remember not to leave cooking food unattended. Don’t wear loose clothing when cooking. Keep towels and pot holders away from the range. And, never use the range or oven to heat your home.

For older adults, fires that begin while cooking are the third leading cause of fire fatalities. The kitchen is a high danger zone for fire, so be extra cautious when cooking.

This message is brought to you by the United States Fire Administration and the Torringford Volunteer Fire Department.