The April 21 Forest Fire Danger Level for Connecticut, as posted by the state's Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (CT DEEP), is Very High.

Connecticut traditionally experiences high forest fire danger in the spring, from mid-March through May. Brush fires are also problematic during this timeframe. Newtown's fire companies have been busy with brush fires during the past week.

On April 14, Sandy Hook and Botsford fire companies were dispatched to a pair of fires that had ignited within a space of just under a mile. The first was just south of Berkshire Road's intersection with Sherman Street, and the second was near the intersection of Berkshire and High Rock Road. Botsford had another brush fire within its district the same afternoon, Hook & Ladder had one in its district on April 17, and Botsford and Sandy Hook responded to one on April 18.

In late March, it took three local fire companies nearly two hours to fully extinguish an accidental fire that had started in the Paugusset Forest after a young man dropped a cigarette in dry brush.

As a result of the fire danger level, all burn permits that had been issued for today in Newtown have been cancelled. Permits are never valid on days when Forest Fire Danger is rated High, Very High or Extreme. Permits are also cancelled on high wind days, or if the air quality is poor anywhere in the state.

Newtown Fire Marshal Bill Halstead recently extended this year's open burning season to May 15. Open burning allows the burning of small brush for disposal by residents. The season was extended in March due to the number of days that had been unsuitable at that time for open burning.

For additional information about burn permits, click here or contact the fire marshal's office at 203-270-4340.

Forest Fire Prevention Tips

The DEEPs Forest Fire Control Office urges all who enjoy the use of Connecticut's parks, forests and open spaces, to use fires with caution and heed the following recommendations especially during forest fire season:

*Obey local laws regarding open fires, including campfires;

*Keep all flammable objects away from fire;

*Have firefighting tools nearby and handy;

*Carefully dispose of hot charcoal;

*Drown all fires; and

*Carefully extinguish smoking materials.

For homeowners, the following steps are suggested to protect family members and dwellings or other buildings:

*Make a fire safe zone around your house. Clean flammable vegetation and debris from at least 30 feet around the house and any outbuildings;

*Prune away the lower limbs of evergreens that are within the fire safe zone. Evergreens catch fire easily during dry periods and burn quickly;

*Remove any limbs which overhang the roof or chimney;

*Regularly remove leaves and needles from gutters;

*Do not store firewood in the fire safe zone;

*Use fire resistant roofing materials;

*Make sure firefighters can find and access your home. Mark your house and roads clearly, and prune away limbs and trees along your driveway which do not allow fire truck access;

*Have an escape plan - and practice it;

*Follow state and local open burning laws;

*Stay with outside fires until they are completely safe and dead out; and

*Dispose of wood ashes in a metal bucket, soaking them with water before dumping them.

If you spot a forest fire, remain calm, go to the nearest telephone and call 911 to report the fire as quickly as possible to the dispatcher who answers. 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.