Spring 2025 Connecticut Wildfire and Fire Risk

Morgan Touhy ’27

Victoria Kenton ’25

With the changing of seasons comes the unforgiving Spring Brush Fires which have doubled so far this year in Connecticut. These fires, causing around 155 total since the start of 2024, stem from the non-evergreen trees heating up and drying out in a viciously fast manner. Much of the forest is impacted by this as the fuel, “grass, leaves, twigs, branches, and decaying material in the soil,” dry and easily burn. An added issue is the wind which spreads these 1-hour fuels that are hard to contain due to nature's own will. The 1-hour fuels are significant as they can burn after only an hour of being wet down. 

Professionals have determined that the cause of this is primarily from human actions like carelessly managing wood, ashes, or even placing technology near flammable material. These actions have caused fires which has led to “high” risk which means that burning brush within 100 feet of woodland or grassland is no longer legal. The CT Post shared that on April 21, 2025, it was the 6th straight high-risk day. Some studies concluded that the amount of moisture in the air is relevant due to “the fuels consumed by brush fires interchange moisture with the air.” This means that low humidity lets brush add to the moisture in the air leading to a flammable product. 

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has requested community members to be extra vigilant when outdoors. Not only has this been harming the environmental habitats around Connecticut yet also has killed one fireman while 8 are injured. Residential and other structural buildings have been lost to the wildfires.  

The community can heed the following recommendations shared by the DEEP Forest Fire Control Office: obey laws, keep flammable objects away, and follow proper precautions for disposing of materials. Homeowners and locals should have an escape plan ready and properly take care of property around their home whether that is twigs or fire-resistant roofing material.  

References

 Yanknowski, YP. (April 21,2025). “CT brush fire risk remains high Monday, after spate of fires over weekend.” CT Post.

https://www.ctpost.com/weather/article/ct-brush-fire-risk-monday-20286176.php 

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. (April 23, 2005). DEEP Asks Residents to Continue to

Exercise Caution During Spring Brush Fire Season. https://portal.ct.gov/deep/news-releases/news-releases---2025/deep-asks-residents-to-continue-to-exercise-caution-during-spring-brush-fire-season