Westport Fire Department: Fire Danger “Extreme” Today; Conditions “not seen since the 1960s”
Today’s Fire Danger Level: Extreme
Westport Fire Department: When the fire danger is "extreme", fires of all types start quickly and burn intensely. All fires are potentially serious and can spread very quickly with intense burning. Small fires become big fires much faster than at the "very high" level. Spot fires are probable, with long-distance spotting likely. These fires are very difficult to fight and may become very dangerous and often last for several days.According to the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s Forest Fire Danger Report, all of Fairfield County is at “extreme” fire danger today. Fire Chief Michael Kronick said, “All fires are potentially serious, but fires under “extreme conditions” start quickly, spread furiously, and burn intensely.”
If you spot a forest fire, remain calm, and dial 911 to report the fire as quickly as possible to your local fire department. Calmly tell the emergency dispatcher when and where you saw it. Extreme fire danger means fires start and can spread quickly.
After another month of below-average rainfall and above-average temperatures, our region, not usually associated with drought, is experiencing near-historic drought conditions not seen since the 1960s.
“Residents should not be alarmed but take steps now to reduce their water usage,” said Fire Chief Michael Kronick, Emergency Management Director. “You can prepare by being proactive and conscientious of your water usage and be alert of the fire danger.”
Now is the time to take measures to reduce the impact of the drought conditions, including:
Reduce automatic outdoor irrigation
Postpone the planting of any new lawns or vegetation
Minimize overall water use by fixing leaky plumbing and fixtures
Follow any additional conservation requests issued by water suppliers or municipalities
For more information from the Connecticut Drought Information Center, please click here.
Tips on water saving measures can be found on the Department of Public Health’s website here.
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Morning Weather Report
Today
Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Southeast wind around 7 mph.
Tonight
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind 5 to 7 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tomorrow
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 5pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85. South wind 3 to 8 mph.
Tomorrow Night
A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
High Tides
4:38 AM / 5:03 PM
Low Tides
10:46 AM / 11:41 PM
Westport Property Transfers: August 15 - 19th; Highest Sale at $10.8 Million on Bluewater Lane
Westport Town Clerk’s Office:
Total Conveyance Tax: $106,810.00
Total Sales: $43,144,000.00
Highest Transfer Price: 6 Bluewater Lane: $10,800,000
Lowest Transfer Price: 50 Roseville Road: $532,500
Transfers:
6 Bluewater Lane: $10,800,000
1 Winding Lane: $4,675,000
8 Authors Way: $4,300,000
19 Old Orchard Road: $3,165,000
7 Warnock Drive: $2,752,500
3 Pebble Beach Lane: $2,650,000
4 Green Acre Lane: $2,600,000
11 Kirock Place: $2,250,000
10 Hockanum Road: $1,461,000
8 Overlook Road: $1,425,000
168 Compo Road South: $1,200,000
8 Cob Drive: $1,167,000
6 Janson Court: $1,165,000
411 Harvest Commons, Unit 411: $925,000
502 Bradley lane: $856,000
5 Wild Rose Road: $800,000
50 Roseville Road: $532,500
4 Hills Lane: $420,000 (Norwalk Taxes)
Westport COVID-19 Cases Up 19 since Wednesday; State Positivity Rate 9.46%
The State Department of Public Health reported 19 more COVID-19 cases in Westport since Wednesday. The State positivity rate was up to 9.46% while 349 people are hospitalized around the State.
Westport total positive or probable cases: 5,762 cases.
Westport total COVID-19 Deaths: 39 deaths
State Daily Test Positivity: 9.46% [up from 9.44%]
I-95 Traffic Reported after overnight Truck Accident
The State Department of Transportation reported heavy traffic on I-95 this morning after a crash involving two tractor trailers shut down a northbound lane between exits 17 and 18.
UPDATE: Driver Suffers Life Threatening Injuries in Crash after being Ejected from Vehicle
Post Road East was closed late Thursday at Hills Point Road as the accident investigation teams worked on the scene. WestportLocal.com photoWestport Police Department: On September 1, 2022, at approximately 9:30 PM, the Westport Police Department received numerous 911 calls regarding a serious motor vehicle crash at the intersection of Sherwood Island Connector and Post Rd East. Arriving officers found a single car, roll-over type crash, and discovered that the operator had been ejected from the vehicle. The operator was transported to Norwalk Hospital with life threatening injuries while the passenger was transported with minor injuries.
The crash is being investigated by the Westport Police Accident Investigation team with the assistance of the Fairfield Police Accident Investigation team.
The Sherwood Island Connector is currently closed between Post Rd E and Greens Farms Rd
Anyone who may have witnessed the crash is asked to call the Westport Police Department at (203)341-6000.
Serious Accident Shuts Down Portion of Post Road East, Sherwood Island Connector
First responders were dispatched to the Sherwood Island Connector near Post Road East for the report of a serious car accident with injuries around 9:30 this evening. The roadway was shut down as investigations continue late into the night. No report on any injuries has been released.
Morning Weather Report
Today
Sunny, with a high near 83. West wind 9 to 13 mph.
Tonight
Clear, with a low around 56. North wind 5 to 8 mph.
Tomorrow
Sunny, with a high near 80. North wind around 6 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Tomorrow Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 62. Southeast wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening.
High Tides
2:52 AM / 3:13 PM
Low Tides
9:02 AM / 9:41 PM
State Announces Dip in Electric Bill Beginning Tomorrow
Press Release Beginning tomorrow, September 1, more than 1.5 million Connecticut households will see their electric bills drop by $93-$120 a year.
"When utility bills arrive each month, I hear from dozens of constituents who want to know what Connecticut is doing about the high cost of energy. The lower rates that become effective September 1 are a step in the right direction," said Sen. Haskell. "Connecticut must continue working to build a grid that is affordable, reliable and green. I'm grateful to our Public Utilities Regulatory Authority for granting this relief for families in my community and across the state."
Two weeks ago, the state Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) lowered allowable electric rates for Eversource and United Illuminating that are expected to save the average residential Eversource electric customer (who uses 700Kw of energy per month) $9.78 per month, and save the average United Illuminating customer $7.72 per month. Savings would be higher for people who use more energy.
The lower rates are effective from tomorrow, September 1, 2022, through April 30, 2023.
Eversource serves 1.2 million Connecticut electric customers in 149 towns, and United Illuminating serves 341,000 Connecticut electric customers in 17 towns in Fairfield and New Haven Counties, including Bridgeport and New Haven.
The electricity price cuts are the result of energy company savings that are tied to state-approved purchase agreements from Dominion Energy's Millstone nuclear power station in Waterford. In 2017, the state legislature approved a new law that permitted Millstone to compete with other carbon-free sources of electricity, including hydro, wind and solar. Then, in 2019, Governor Lamont announced that PURA had approved a new contract between Dominion, Eversource and United Illuminating requiring the utilities to purchase approximately 50 percent of Millstone’s output (9 million MWH/year) for 10 years.
That cost savings is driven by the millions of dollars the electric companies saved by buying power from Millstone and the Seabrook Nuclear Power Plant at rates that are now below the market average in New England.
Westport COVID-19 Cases Up 6; State Positivity Rate 9.44%
The State Department of Public Health reported 6 more COVID-19 cases in Westport over the past day. The State positivity rate was down to 9.44% while 353 people are hospitalized around the State.
Westport total positive or probable cases: 5,743 cases.
Westport total COVID-19 Deaths: 39 deaths
State Daily Test Positivity: 9.44% [up from 9.59%]