Newtown And Many Area Crews Battle Large, Stubborn Brush Fire

NEWTOWN, CT — Over a dozen area teams of firefighters and emergency workers pitched in Tuesday to tackle a brush fire that just didn't want to stay extinguished.

Steep terrain and exposure issues involving garages and farm animal structures hampered the crews and aided the rapid spread of the large fire.

Specialized tools and tactics, including drones, forestry line, chain saws, portable water tanks, all-terrain vehicles, and even leaf blowers were all brought to bear against the blaze, which consumed around 5.25 acres.

Every Newtown fire company was on site, with mutual aid from Monroe, Oxford, Bethel, Brookfield, Beacon Falls, Middlebury, Roxbury, Woodbury, Southbury, and Danbury. Wildfire task force members, with Fairfield County regional coordination, were also involved, according to Botsford Fire Rescue officials.

On Tuesday night, crews from Botsford Fire Rescue and Newtown Hook & Ladder, with mutual aid from the Southbury Fire Department, were called back as an area had reignited. It was quickly brought under control.

With the fire danger expected to be elevated through the beginning of next week, fire officials have asked residents not to light any open burns, such as fire pits or the burning of yard debris.