Crime & Safety

No Cause Determined in Two-Day Middlefield Brush Fire

Fire Chief Peter Tyc said the fire near the Lake Beseck area may have started near a hunter's stand, but it was never fully determined.

Middlefield fire investigators were unable to completely pinpoint what sparked a brush fire that started Nov. 4 and burned for two days in the Lake Beseck area.

Fire Chief Peter Tyc said responders did find a hunter's tree stand in the middle of the woods and officials think the fire could have started there.

"It looked like that was one of the areas most burnt," Tyc said. "But it's only a thought. Whether someone was in there smoking, or having a camp fire, there's no real way of finding out."

The brush fire burned around 6.5 acres of forested land in the hills behind several homes surrounding the lake. The fire traveled through the roots of trees and was spreading underground that way, Tyc said. 

Tyc said 45 people — firefighters and support — from towns as far away as Berlin and Higganum battled the fire the first day. On the second day, after officials got it under control, about 30 people responded from departments in Middlefield, Meriden, Durham and Middletown.

While brush fires often span several acres, Tyc said it is still possible to determine a cause.

"Some are caused by fireworks or campfires actually," he said. 

Conditions were dry at the time of the fire and they still are, as the area has lacked decent rainfall. Tyc said the fire danger right now is at a "moderate" level although there is a chance for brush fires to take hold. 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.