Photo by Jason Edwards For The Valley Indy
A firefighter sprays water on a brush fire behind the Kellogg Environmental Center, 500 Hawthorne Ave. in Derby.
DERBY — About 60 firefighters battled a blaze in the woods between Roosevelt Drive and Hawthorne Avenue in west Derby Monday.
It’s the latest in a series of brush fires throughout Connecticut. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a red flag warning Saturday across much of southern New England. The designation notes that strong winds and low relative humidity allows fires to spread quickly once started.
Photo by Jason Edwards For The Valley Indy
A firefighter from Shelton at the scene.
There were no injuries reported, according to fire department officials interviewed at 5:15 p.m. There was no immediate word on the cause, which will be investigated by Derby Fire Marshal Phil Hawks.
The fire was first reported at about 4:30 p.m. in the area of 581 Roosevelt Avenue (state Route 34). Heavy smoke could be seen all along Roosevelt Drive and the Housatonic River.
Photo by Jason Edwards For The Valley Indy
Derby Fire Chief David Lenart (center, using radio).
Firefighters set up a command post behind the state-owned Kellogg Environmental Center at 500 Hawthorne Ave. Firefighters from Ansonia, Orange, Seymour, and Shelton were all called to the scene.
“The bulk of the fire has been contained,” Derby Fire Chief David Lenart told The Valley Indy at the scene.
The scene in Derby Monday.
He expected firefighters to be on scene for several hours dealing with hot spots.
The fire was on a rather steep hill going up from Roosevelt Drive toward the Kellogg Center.
Traffic was being rerouted from Roosevelt Drive onto Hawthorne Avenue through Lakeview Drive and Cullens Hill Road.
Lenart said he was not sure how many acres burned, but said 5 acres was a good estimate.
