Norwich ― Firefighters spent several hours extinguishing a brush fire at Mohegan Park on Monday as the state issued a warning for residents to avoid open burning due to the dry and windy weather expected this week.

Norwich Fire Battalion Chief Scott Merchant said firefighters from across the city responded to the park at 12:27 p.m. to fight fires in two different wooded locations covering about five or six acres .

The fire was under control within about an hour but firefighters remained at the scene until 3:30 p.m. extinguishing hot spots. Lisbon and Ledyard firefighters were called in to provide specialized equipment to reach the fire.

The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection warns that fires can spread rapidly this time of the year because of the lack of green vegetation and dry conditions.

Open burning is not allowed when the “Forest Fire Danger Index is high, very high or extreme.“

The state and local communities regulate open burning. Information on requirements is available by https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Air/Open-Burning/Open-Burning and https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Forestry/Forest-Fire/Forest-Fire-Danger-Report