Outdoor Burning Will Get You In Trouble In Simsbury

Crime & Safety

Outdoor Burning Will Get You In Trouble In Simsbury Citing the dry conditions and high forest fire danger, Simsbury fire officials this week have implemented an outdoor burn ban.

SIMSBURY, CT — Falling in line with the rest of the state, Simsbury fire officials this week have implemented an immediate open burning ban until further notice.

Dry weather in recent weeks has turned the state's leaves and brush dangerously dry, creating tinderbox situations ripe for forest fires, such as the one in Berlin that has been burning for more than a week.

Earlier this week, The Town of Simsbury instituted its open burning ban in response.

"Effective immediately, the Town of Simsbury and the Simsbury Fire District have issued a temporary ban on all outdoor burning in Simsbury," wrote the town. "This includes all businesses, town parks, and residential properties."

The massive Lamentation Mountain blaze in Berlin is believed to have been caused by an abandoned campfire, a practice that is, currently, illegal statewide.

Simsbury officials said the ban applies to any burning of any kind, such as campfires, fire pits, charcoal grilling, and the burning of yard debris.

This is in line with statewide burn bans implemented by the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection in state parks and other state lands.

Simsbury officials said no burning shall take place in Simsbury if DEEP's fire danger is "High," "Very High," or "Extreme."

Despite a light rain shower overnight Tuesday night into Wednesday, Oct. 30, the fire danger remains high, with a possible record-warm Halloween expected Thursday, Oct. 31.

Anyone with questions about Simsbury's burn ban can contact Simsbury Fire Marshal/Open Burning Official Patrick Tourville at 860-658-1973.