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Easton fire marshal outlines public safety outreach, tighter burn‑permit enforcement and cites lithium‑ion battery in garage fire
Summary
Fire Marshal Schuyler Sherwood reported plans for expanded community education, a June 1 go‑live for the FCRD transition, stepped-up enforcement of open‑burning violations, and said a March house fire on Tersana Drive likely originated with a wall‑mounted lithium‑ion battery charger; estimated property damage exceeds $30,000.
Fire Marshal Schuyler Sherwood presented a detailed monthly report to the Board of Fire Commissioners on March 18, outlining public education initiatives, ongoing plan reviews and recent incidents.
"Community education may be the most important thing that we do," Sherwood told the commission, and he said his office will produce a two‑page safety bulletin for broad distribution. He described substantial staff time on the FCRD transition project (three to four meetings per week) with a June 1 go‑live target and confirmed he presented the Fire Marshal budget to the Board of Finance on March 3.
Sherwood said he completed required open‑burning official training and that burning permits have been issuing at a high rate. He warned some residents are attempting to avoid the permit process by burning in large backyard pits not intended for recreational use and said the office will begin stepped‑up enforcement.
On incident response, Sherwood and Chief R. Klem reported details of a house fire at 60 Tersana Drive in which live power lines and a garage fire were reported the evening of March 16. "The Office of the Fire Marshal has determined the origin of the fire appeared to be in the area of a large lithium ion battery used for yard equipment," the report states; crews disconnected power to the charger and contained the fire to the garage. Mutual aid was requested from Long Hill, Weston and the Fairfield fire departments; the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the Easton building department, Easton EMS and police also responded, and UI shut power to the area at the utility's request.
The marshal's report estimates damage to the home will exceed $30,000 and states the department's actions protected a substantially larger amount of property. Sherwood also detailed plan‑review issues, including concerns about the Plum Tree townhouse revision (29 townhouses), Rising Sky School approvals with access conditions, and Saddle Ridge plans that include a 20,000‑gallon underground tank.
Sherwood closed by listing ongoing inspections and training: EMS building final inspections with a tentative temporary certificate of occupancy in April; inspections of new day‑care and public school facilities; and upcoming code training in April.
The board recorded no votes on the marshal's report during the meeting.
