EAST LYME, Conn. — Rocky Neck State Park in East Lyme remained closed Monday as a fire crew of 30 members continued to battle a brush fire taking up around 47 acres.
The dry conditions across Connecticut continue to pose challenges for firefighters in the state.
Rich Schenk, fire control officer from the Connecticut DEEP’s Forestry Division, said that the fire is "controlled on the edges, but we are monitoring it and mopping up this which is going to take some time because there is a lot of ground fire involved."
Schenk is a veteran firefighter who has traveled the country helping other states battle brushfires. He noted the call to close the park was all about common sense.
“We have this closed for public safety and our firefighter safety," Schenk said.
Inside the park, firefighter Nate Piche led a crew from the DEEP’s Forestry Division, helping to put out hotspots in a number of locations.
“We are churning up the hot spots and incorporating water in it and we are drawing water off a nearby marsh as well as well as a hydrant in the park," Piche said.
According to Schenk, "Rocky Neck is one of about 111 fires statewide."
“Currently we have a crew from Groveland, California that’s working here, we have another country, so Quebec is supporting us, folks from New Hampshire, Maine, multiple other states and federal agencies that are assisting so in our time of need it’s coming back to us here in the State of Connecticut," Schenk said.
Both Schenk and Piche said they hoped that Rocky Neck State Park would be able to open up again this week, but the hiking trail system will stay closed until further notice.
“These fires are going to smolder until we get significant rain, and I mean two to three days’ worth, and two or three inches of rain and I don’t see that in the future, so we are prepared for the long haul here," Schenk said.
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Jimmy Altman is a reporter at FOX61 News. He can be reached at jaltman@fox61.com. Follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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