All Connecticut Counties Under High Brush Fire Risk Sunday

Connecticut officials have issued a statewide high brush fire risk for Sunday. Dry conditions are settling in, so they’re tightening outdoor burning rules and keeping a close eye on even tiny embers.

The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is canceling local brush-burning permits near grassland or woodland. They’re also reminding everyone to dispose of ash, hot charcoal, and smoking materials the right way.

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With drier weather expected—quite a shift from Saturday’s scattered showers—people from Hartford to Norwalk and all across Connecticut should plan ahead and avoid open flames.

High brush fire risk prompts statewide restrictions and warnings

DEEP has put every county under a “high” brush fire risk for Sunday. Any permits for brush burning within 100 feet of grassland or woodland are now void.

Permits get canceled whenever the risk level hits high, very high, or extreme. The agency is practically begging people to be careful with ash, hot charcoal, or smoking materials right now.

Dry conditions will get even worse on Sunday. Scattered showers on Saturday didn’t really help much.

Sunday’s forecast? Unseasonably cool. Highs will only reach the upper 50s to around 60 degrees, which is 5 to 10 degrees below what early May usually brings.

Permits, burning rules, and safety expectations

These rules apply everywhere in Connecticut, no matter what town you’re in. Local fire officials say it just takes one careless ember to start a fast-moving brush fire, especially with all the dry leaves and brush piling up this spring.

If you want to avoid sparking a fire, keep these in mind:

DEEP cancels brush-burning permits if you’re within 100 feet of grassland or woodland.
Permits are void when the brush fire risk is high, very high, or extreme.
Don’t toss ash, hot charcoal, or smoking materials outside—make sure they’re fully cooled and soaked before you walk away.
Keep a hose or water source handy. Clear a wide space around any burn to keep fire from spreading.
Always check with your local fire department or town hall for more restrictions before lighting anything, even if you think your permit is good.

Where the risk lands across Connecticut’s towns

From Hartford and New Haven to Stamford, Bridgeport, and Waterbury, everyone should stay alert. The risk stretches to coastal cities like Norwalk and Milford, plus inland spots such as Danbury, Greenwich, and Middletown.

Authorities mention East Hartford, West Hartford, New Britain, and Bristol as places where folks need to be extra careful. Small towns like Old Saybrook, Groton, and Norwich aren’t off the hook either. Honestly, the entire state’s feeling the effects of this dry stretch.

Forecast notes and safety reminders for Sunday

CT Insider Meteorologist Dan Amarante says Sunday’s shaping up to be drier than Saturday. Highs should land somewhere in the upper 50s to around 60 degrees.

Overnight, things could cool off into the 40s. There’ll be a light breeze, just enough to carry embers if someone leaves open flames unattended.

Fire chiefs are urging everyone to remember the window for safe outdoor burning is pretty limited right now. Honestly, prevention’s the best defense against brush fires this week.

Don’t light any open flames in grassy or brushy areas—especially near forests and wetlands in towns like Bridgeport, Norwalk, and Groton.
Don’t toss smoking materials outside; make sure embers are out cold before you leave a spot near Danbury or Waterbury.
Check with your town’s fire department for burn status updates in Stamford, Hartford, and New Haven.

Connecticut’s in for a dry Sunday, so folks from New London to Clinton—really, anywhere in the state—should keep in mind that even a tiny flame can get out of hand fast. If you catch a whiff of smoke or spot flames, call local authorities right away.

The DEEP’s Sunday alert is a reminder for everyone: prevention really does start at home, whether that’s Hartford, New London, or anywhere in between.

Here is the source article for this story: All CT counties under high brush fire risk Sunday, officials say

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