Firefighters put out a brush fire in a heavily wooded area off of Canoe Hill Road around midday Tuesday that started after a dead tree fell onto power lines.
New Canaan firefighters contain a brush fire in the area of 337 Canoe Hill Road on April 19, 2016. Photo published with permission from its owner
A primary power line broke under the weight of the tree and fell among dry leaves and brush on the ground in the area of 337 Canoe Hill Road, igniting a fire that likely would have spread very quickly if not for the vigilance of a neighbor who alerted emergency responders immediately, according to New Canaan Fire Chief Jack Hennessey.
Firefighters arrived on scene with Engine 1 and Tanker 8 and contained the fire after receiving the call at about 11:39 a.m.—they had to wait for Eversource to arrive and shut down the power line prior to extinguishing it.
New Canaan firefighters contain a brush fire in the area of 337 Canoe Hill Road on April 19, 2016. Photo published with permission from its owner
“That is a primary wire and still energized so we cannot get close to it and we especially can’t shoot water on it,” Hennessey said, pointing at the area where the fire started, still aflame. “So we have to wait till they [Eversource officials] come in and shut off the power and then we can mop up and put the rest of the fire out.”
New Canaan Police shut down Canoe Hill Road between Ludlowe and Ferris Hill Roads while firefighters kept a close eye on the brush fire.
Tuesday is what Hennessey called a “red-flag day from the weather bureau.”
New Canaan firefighters contain a brush fire in the area of 337 Canoe Hill Road on April 19, 2016. Photo published with permission from its owner
“That means we have dry conditions, low humidity and higher winds, and sustained winds so that if a brush fire does start, it tends to move very rapidly,” he said. “And it can get out of control quickly. We got very lucky, they [neighbors] saw it very quickly and called us right away, and we were able to contain it.”
Hennessey said the fire department currently is not issuing burn permits, and urged residents to be careful with smoking materials.
“Don’t have any outside fire because if it starts going it will spread very rapidly because of all the dry leaves that are still on the ground until after it rains,” he said.