The driest stretch of weather in the state’s recorded history, which has ignited 150 brush fire in the past two weeks with no sign of letting up, has led state and local officials to crack down on open burning.

Several towns in the region have instituted all-out bans on outside fires, while fire officials in the remaining towns are refusing to issue any permits for those looking to burn brush.

The strictest local bans mimic the emergency restrictions that have been in effect since Oct. 26 for all state parks, forests and wildlife management areas. The state ban prohibits the use of all outdoor grills, fire pits and campfires, as well as the kindling and use of flame outdoors.

The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) on Friday said 74 fires are currently being monitored and 13 fires are in the mop-up stage. Fifty-nine are being watched for signs of reignition due to ongoing dry and windy weather.

In East Lyme, where Deputy Fire Chief Erik Quinn said crews have battled about a dozen brush fires, the town issued an alert on Oct. 25 that specified no outside fires of any kind are allowed in town.

Blow torch arrest

One arrest has been made and one ticket issued by the East Lyme Police Department for illegal burning. The Oct. 29 arrest came after a Chesterfield Road resident called to complain his neighbor was using a blow torch to burn brush.

Police arrived to find Cosmos Gakopoulos, 50, holding a propane torch as plywood, two-by-four pieces of wood and yard debris burned in a nearby barrel. He said he’d been burning areas of grass with the torch.

He was charged with open air burning without a permit and kindling a fire in the open air without a permit.

State law makes it a misdemeanor offense to burn fires without a permit and puts additional restrictions in place when the forest fire danger is high or extreme. Both violations can result in a fine up to $200 and not more than six months in prison.

The town has been the location of some of the largest fires in the area, where blazes at Rocky Neck State Park and the Oswegatchie Hills Nature Preserve drew a large response from local and state firefighters. Crews from locations as far away as California and Idaho have been called in to assist.

The state park remains closed as crews work to keep the fire contained to about 44 acres, according to the DEEP. No cause has been determined.

DEEP fire control officer Rich Schenk, who works out of the forestry division’s eastern district, said in a Thursday press briefing that people can expect to see smoke in the area for a considerable amount of time.

Crews are working at the edge of the fire to make sure it doesn’t grow, according to Schenk. He said the heat remains intense.

“We’ll let the middle of that fire smolder and burn until we get a season-ending event, be that snow or rain,” he said.

No relief in site

Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security regional coordinator and former television meteorologist Josh Cingranelli said there’s no substantial rain in the forecast.

“Even a tenth of an inch or quarter inch of rain really isn't going to do much to alleviate this fire danger threat,” he said.

Quinn, the East Lyme deputy fire chief, said many of the fires in town have started on the side of the road. Sources could include cigarettes, hot vehicle engine blocks and branches falling on electrical wires.

He said there’s the possibility of some “potentially being lit by the human hand.”

On Friday, he referred questions about the cause of the fires to East Lyme Fire Service Chief Bill Bundy. The chief did not return multiple calls for comment.

East Lyme Police Chief Michael Macek said there is currently no participation by local police in any fire investigation. He said the suspicion of arson would likely trigger police involvement.

Other local approaches

Old Lyme Fire Marshal Dave Roberge on Friday said residents seem to be adhering to the strict ban on outdoor burning that includes cooking fires, fire pits or burning of leaves or brush. Two large digital signs on Boston Post Road and Shore Road warn there is “high fire danger” and “no open burning.”

He said there have been no reported brush fires in town and two reports of illegal burning. No arrests were made.

“We try to be kinder and gentler in the beginning,” he said.

Groton Town Manager John Burt on Friday instituted a fire ban in consultation with the town’s Emergency Management officials and local fire departments. His emergency declaration applies an “absolute prohibition on all open burning of fires” in Groton, except for Groton Long Point and the City of Groton.

“The need for a fire ban has become apparent as the drought has dragged on, and having seen brush fires in other parts of the state,” he said in an email. “It was also important to get the ban in place prior to the long holiday weekend, which would likely see increased instances of outdoor fires.”

Preston Fire Marshal Keith Wucik acknowledged the town does not technically ban outdoor fires.

“We’re just going by what the state is recommending, which is no burning,” he said.

He said three calls for illegal burns were found to be contained to burn barrels.

“We told them to put them out, and they did,” he said.

In New London, Fire Chief Vernon Skau said there’s no local burn ban because a city ordinance already prohibits most outdoor fires without a permit. The city is not currently issuing any burn permits.

Schenk, the DEEP fire control officer, could not estimate how long it will be before the state sees relief from the brush fires, though he said it would not surprise him if the threat lasted into January.

“Hopefully that’s not the case,” he said.

e.regan@theday.com