Conn. crews train for brush fire season with ‘prescribed burn’ [Video]

WINDSOR, Conn — Getting in the line of fire was part of the plan at the Matianuck Natural Area Preserve in Windsor on Tuesday. The Forestry Division of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection brought together firefighters for a “prescribed burn” – ultimately a chance to get hands-on training in the midst of brush fire season in Connecticut.

“To do live fire on anything is the best training you are going to get,” said Rich Schenk, a veteran firefighter and fire control officer with CT DEEP’s forestry division. “We can simulate things in a classroom but to actually go out and do it on the ground – you can’t simulate that.”

“It is brush fire season for Connecticut which typically runs from mid-March to the second week of May,” said Olney Knight a fire control officer. He added, “The training is invaluable, you can’t get better than live fire …