Crime & Safety
Third Brush Fire Erupts Along Local Hiking Trails
Durham and Middlefield firefighters, along with crews from Haddam, Chester and Wallingford, responded to a brush fire around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in Durham. The fire grew to about three acres, fire officials said.
Firefighters responded Tuesday night to another large brush fire along the Blue Trail hiking range, the third such brush fire in as many days.
The fire broke out along the ridge line at Trimountain State Park along the Durham and Wallingford border around 6 p.m., according to Durham Volunteer Fire Company chief Robert Chadd.
About 60 firefighters from Durham, Middlefield, Haddam, Wallingford and Chester responded to the fire which grew to about three acres, according to Chadd.
Firefighters used gators to access the fire, which was located about a mile into the woods. Crews were still fighting hotspots as of 10:30 p.m.
Tuesday night's brush fire is the third in as many days along the Blue-blazed hiking trail system stretching from Middletown south to Durham.
On Sunday night, firefighters battled a brush fire on Higby Mountain in Middletown and last night firefighters responded to a three acre brush fire on Beseck Mountain in Middlefield.
Chadd said the fires may have been caused by a hiker discarding a cigarette in the woods. The fire threat remains high due to the drier weather conditions and strong winds.
Firefighters were assisted by MJP Inc. which provided an additional gator and fuel. Carmine's Pizza of Durham provided firefighters with 15 pizzas.
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