Fire Marshal Rich Frampton has issued a request to all residents and visitors to use caution with any fires during the current drought.

Frampton on Thursday issued a brief press release calling attention to the fact that the firest fire danger in the area is Extreme.

“Precautions should be taken to prevent fires. If you are enjoying the outdoors, always limit your campfires to the stone or metal rings and be sure your fire is doused thoroughly when done,” Frampton said.

Firefighters from most of Newtown’s five companies have responded to multiple brush fires in recent weeks.

Burn permits are canceled any time the Forest Fire Danger is rated High, Very High or Extreme and burning is done within 100 feet of grassland or woodland.

Fairfield Country was listed as Extreme by the CT DEEP Forest Fire Control Office on September 1.

Hartford, Litchfield, Middlesex, New London, New Haven and Tolland counties were all listed at High; Windham was at Low.

Fairfield County has been at Stage 2 drought level since July 14, when Governor Ned Lamont put the entire state at that level. Under the state’s drought plan adopted in 2018, Stage 2 identifies an emerging drought event, potentitally impacting water supplies, agriculture, or natural ecosystems. Stage 2 is the second of five stages defined in the Connecticut Drought Response Preparedness Plan.

Residents and businesses across the state have been asked to voluntarily take the following measures to aid in minimizing future drought impact:

*Reduce automatic outdoor irrigation;

*Postpone the planting of any new lawns or vegetation;

*Minimize overall water use by fixing leaky plumbing and fixtures; and

*Follow any additional conservation requests issued by water suppliers or municipalities.

The governor in mid-August declared Stage 3 drought conditions for New London and Windham counties “due to more serious conditions that are emerging in those areas,” according to the Office of the Governor.