Officials warn residents of brush fire risks during extended periods of heat

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — Fire officials are warning locals to be aware of brush fire risks during the dry summer conditions that Connecticut has seen recently.

"They start off as brush fires and they can easily escalate to a wildfire or a house fire," said New Haven Fire Chief John Alston, Jr.

Alston says our dry conditions could be a recipe for fire, especially during a string of hot days without any intermissions of rain.

Alston spoke first about the risks posed by dry grass and leaves.

"Even just looking for that, we found a cigarette butt that people will just flick out of a car or walking by,” Alston said. “They're thinking innocently it will just go out on its own. If it lands on these materials, either individually or collectively, you're going to have a brush fire."

The New H