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Easton fire marshal warns of high danger, limits open burning and updates on inspections and training
Summary
Fire Marshal Schuyler Sherwood reported high fire danger, plans for expanded public education including grilling safety, nearly 50 burning permits issued, ongoing plan reviews (including access concerns at Plum Tree), and upcoming trainings and inspections in a written April 2026 report to commissioners.
In a written April 2026 report provided to the Board of Fire Commissioners, Fire Marshal Schuyler Sherwood said conditions are dry and "the Fire Danger is High," prompting stepped-up public-education messaging and tighter limits on open burning for the coming month.
Sherwood said the office has pushed safety information via the town newsletter and intends to highlight grilling safety this week, and directed readers to state resources at "www.ct.gov/firesafe." He reported the office has "issued nearly 50 permits" for burning but warned that open burning will be "very restrictive" while fire danger remains elevated.
The report also summarized ongoing plan reviews and code inspections: work with zoning on occupancy concerns at Greisers; Plum Tree remains in process and the fire marshal flagged "erroneous comments by the attorney for the project indicating that fire department access is acceptable, which it is not"; Rising Sky School plans are pending; Saddle Ridge continues through the process; and the Aspetuck Land Trust submitted plans for a new exit stair and related renovations. Sherwood said final inspections on the EMS building continue and he estimated a temporary certificate of occupancy (TCO) by mid-May.
Sherwood listed training he attended and will attend (a two-day fire code seminar April 9–10, Solar Fire Safety on May 15, fire alarm inspection training on June 4, and an advanced fire investigation class on June 24). He said inspection of a Boy Scout breakfast found blocked exits and that there were no noteworthy fire investigations at this time. He also noted work on new procedures for the FCRD transition and on an information management system, and said he is "working with AFD on the transition to FCRD" (the report did not define the AFD abbreviation).
Why this matters: elevated fire danger and active plan reviews affect permit decisions and site-access requirements for new developments. The marshal's note about attorney statements on site access signals a compliance concern for the Plum Tree project; no response from the attorney or developer was recorded in the report.
