Beacon Hose monitoring smoldering brush fire

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A brush fire burns Friday afternoon in woods off of Hockanum Glen Road in Beacon Falls. –BEACON HOSE
A brush fire burns Friday afternoon in woods off of Hockanum Glen Road in Beacon Falls. –BEACON HOSE

BEACON FALLS — A smoldering brush fire in the woods off of Hockanum Glen Road and Skokorat Road flared up again Friday.

Smoke was visible downtown as Beacon Hose Company No. 1 responded to the fire at about 3:15 p.m. It was the second time in as many weeks a brush fire ignited in the area, as firefighters responded Sept. 26 to the same woods.

Fire Chief Jim Trzaski said the two fires are actually the same brush fire. While firefighters doused the fire burning above ground Sept. 26, the brush fire continued to slowly smolder like charcoal through the root system underground, he said. With leaves now on the ground, dry weather and a breeze, he said, the conditions were ripe Friday for a flare up.

Local firefighters and workers with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection worked for hours Friday and Saturday to put out the flames and dig a “fire line” around what officials believe is the perimeter of the underground fire, Trzaski said.

This map shows the perimeter of a fire line dug in woods off of Hockanum Glen Road in Beacon Falls to prevent a brush fire from spreading. –CONTRIBUTED
This map shows the perimeter of a fire line dug in woods off of Hockanum Glen Road in Beacon Falls to prevent a brush fire from spreading. –CONTRIBUTED

Firefighters removed vegetation around the perimeter of the fire and dug the fire line about 1 foot deep and 8 feet wide using hand tools, Trzaski said. The line is intended to stop the fire from spreading underground. He estimated the fire has spread to about 5 acres.

Trzaski said the rain Saturday and Sunday helped a little, but more rain is needed. However, the forecast calls for more dry weather. He said firefighters are continuing to monitor the area and work the perimeter of the fire line.

Trzaski asked residents to refrain from open burning. He reminded residents that open burning is only allowed in town with a permit and that brush can be brought to the town garage on Lopus Road on Fridays.