Three small brush fires that broke out in Shelton Monday were set intentionally, the city’s fire marshal has ruled, and authorities are considering whether they could be linked to a series of other recent brush fires near the Derby-Orange line.
Firefighters in Derby were dispatched to reports of “multiple brush fires” on the Derby-Milford Road Monday about 4:05 p.m. Monday.
About 10 minutes later, firefighters in Shelton were sent to a reported brush fire in the area of Howe Avenue.
Another brush blaze was reported farther up Route 110 about five minutes later.
“We attribute it to someone going by and lighting the side of the road on fire,” Shelton Fire Marshal James Tortora said Tuesday. “We can’t attribute it to any other ignition sources, like lightning, electrical, or a chemical reaction.”
None of the fires caused much damage, Tortora said.
Authorities don’t yet know whether all the brush fires are linked.
“Whether they’re connected or not we can’t determine,” Tortora said.
Click the play button below to hear emergency personnel being sent to the fires. The audio track has been edited.
People should be on the lookout for anyone who could be setting the blazes, he said, and should call police immediately if they see anything suspicious.
“The more eyes out there the better,” he said, noting that the threat of brush fires is particularly high at this time of year. “With the fall leaves down and especially after the storm you’ve got a lot of brush and wood and leaves on the ground.”
Derby Fire Marshal Phil Hawks said Tuesday Derby has also responded to several brush fires in the last seven days or so.
Hawks is now reviewing reports from those fires after Monday’s unusual reports of several brush fires on Derby-Milford Road.
The New Haven Register reported Monday that the Derby-Milford road has been “plagued” by brush fires, but said a cause had not yet been determined.
Area police and fire marshals are sharing information, Hawks said.
“It’s not Kosher. Somebody’s doing something,” the Derby fire marshal said.
