Woodbury Fire Marshal's Office

Woodbury Fire Marshal's Office Welcome to Woodbury Fire Marshal's Office. Our office is dedicated to Life Safety, Fire Prevention.

Welcome to Woodbury Fire Marshal's Office

Meet our Staff

Janet B. Morgan ~ Fire Marshal ~ FM1

Michael Devine ~ Deputy Fire Marshal ~ FM2

Brian Proulx ~ Deputy Fire Marshal ~ FM3

Ned Dalton ~ Deputy Fire Marshal ~ FM4

William "Bill" Garms ~ Fire Investigator

Robin Tofield ~ Administrative Assistant

Nothing rings in summer like firing up the grill, making s’mores, or getting your boat back on the water. Unfortunately,...
05/22/2026

Nothing rings in summer like firing up the grill, making s’mores, or getting your boat back on the water. Unfortunately, these warm-weather milestones significantly increase the risk of fires—and not always in the ways we expect.
Here are our experts’ tips for a safe, fire-free summer.

Grills

U.S. firefighters respond to more than 10,000 grill fires each year. Not surprisingly, most of these fires occur in the summer. Before you plan your next cookout:

Clean your grill: Inadequate or infrequent grill cleaning is the leading cause of grill fires. Leftover cooking residue or leaking fuel can ignite without warning, turning your grill into a torch in a matter of seconds. Thoroughly clean your grill every time you use it.
Check your spacing: Grills should generally be placed at least ten feet from anything flammable, including your home. Check your manufacturer’s guidelines for measurements specific to your grill model.

If your grill catches fire, stay calm, immediately turn off the gas burners (or shut the air vents on a charcoal grill), and close the lid to starve the fire of oxygen. Never use water on a grease fire, as it will cause the burning oil to splatter and rapidly spread.

How to Extinguish a Grill Fire

Shut the fuel source: Turn off the grill's control k***s. If it's a gas grill, close the valve on the propane tank if it is safe to do so.

Smother the flames: Close the grill lid immediately. You can also throw baking soda, kosher salt, or sand directly onto the grease fire to absorb the oil and cut off oxygen.

Use a fire extinguisher: If the fire is spreading outside the firebox, use an ABC-rated dry chemical fire extinguisher.

When to call 911: IMMEDIATELY - You may think you can handle it - but these fire grow rapidly - CALL US before it gets out of control. We can always turn the trucks around if it is under control when the first officer/firefighter arrives on scene. We much prefer that than having to call for more assistance because the fire is now extended a structure.

We are your neighbors and are just trying to keep you, our neighbors, safe!

Fire pit safety tips - Part two In addition to yesterday's suggested guidelines , fire pits in particular have some spec...
04/23/2026

Fire pit safety tips - Part two

In addition to yesterday's suggested guidelines , fire pits in particular have some special considerations. They are generally small and sometimes portable, which leads to possible additional hazards. To ensure personal safety and prevent the spread of fire when using fire pits, follow these additional tips:

Only use fire pits outdoors and at least 10 feet (3 meters) from anything that can burn.
Place the fire pit on even ground or a level surface that will not catch on fire, such as patio blocks, bricks, or concrete.
Remove any trip hazards from the area around the fire pit, like loose rocks or sticks.
Keep the area well-lit or use a flashlight when approaching or leaving the fire pit area.
Keep the fire pit away from siding, decks, deck railings, tents, grass or other vegetation, and out from under eaves, overhanging branches, or overhanging rooflines.
Use a fire pit screen to help contain sparks, embers, and ash.
In wood-burning pits, burn only clean, dry, seasoned hardwood.
Keep children and pets at least three feet (1 meter) away from the fire pit.
Arrange chairs a safe distance away from the fire pit; ask adults to stay a safe distance away from the fire pit and model safe behavior for children.
For a wood-burning pit, put the fire out completely and dispose of ashes, only after they have cooled, in a metal container with a tight-fitting lid. Place the container away from anything that can burn.

The risk of tripping and falling into the fire pit is sadly supported by real-world experience and data. The ease of creating a fire, and its small size, may lead people to think that there are fewer safety risks around a fire pit than a campfire. These tips can help people enjoy the ambience of a fire pit while keeping everyone safe.

Prevention Tips for Fire Pits and Outdoor FiresWind-blown embers igniting dry vegetation and threatening homes? Sounds l...
04/22/2026

Prevention Tips for Fire Pits and Outdoor Fires

Wind-blown embers igniting dry vegetation and threatening homes? Sounds like a brush fire! Yet that source of embers may well be your own patio fire pit or backyard campfire.

Anyone who wants to use fire outdoors—whether it’s in a fire pit, fire pot, or chiminea or it’s a campfire — should first contact their local fire department to find out about local requirements and restrictions for open burning in their town or state. Provisions differ community by community. There are places that never allow outdoor use of fire, such as in densely developed urban areas, and many others that restrict outdoor burning to certain seasons and within certain conditions.

Gathering around a cozy fire pit or small campfire can be a great time for fun with family and friends. But even a small fire can present a safety hazard to people, pets, and property given certain conditions. NFPA’s educational messaging on this topic gives some tips, starting with this one:

Avoid burning anything outdoors on windy, dry days.

Why? Because embers from open burning, even from a small fire, can ignite nearby structures or cause a wildfire. Use these seven smart tips, summarized from NFPA’s Educational Messages Desk Reference, when planning any fire use outdoors:

Check with your local fire department or municipality before starting an outdoor fire and obtain proper permits, if required.
Closely supervise all outdoor fires. Make sure the fire is out before leaving the area.
Supervise children and pets around any fire outdoors.
Keep fires a safe distance from anything that can burn (the larger the fire, the greater the distance you need).
Never burn plastics, construction debris, treated lumber, tires, pesticides, paint, or aerosol containers.
Never use gasoline or other flammable or combustible liquids on an outdoor fire.
Have a hose, bucket of water, or shovel with dirt or sand nearby to extinguish the fire.

Tomorrow's tip - more fire pit safety reminders

As warmer weather nears NFPA offers 6 key tips to safely tackle spring cleaning - Tip # 6Clean out your clothes dryer ...
04/21/2026

As warmer weather nears NFPA offers 6 key tips to safely tackle spring cleaning - Tip # 6

Clean out your clothes dryer

Make sure the air exhaust vent pipe for your dryer is not restricted and that the outdoor vent flap will open when the dryer is operating.

Move things that can burn, such as boxes, cleaning supplies and clothing, away from the dryer.

Clothes that have come in contact with flammable substances like gasoline, paint thinner, or similar solvents should be laid outside to dry, then can be washed and dried as usual.

Hope you have enjoyed these 6 quick spring safety tips. Check back for more.

As warmer weather nears NFPA offers 6 key tips to safely tackle spring cleaning - Tip #5Keep debris well away from your...
04/20/2026

As warmer weather nears NFPA offers 6 key tips to safely tackle spring cleaning - Tip #5

Keep debris well away from your home

Every year, wildfires burn across the U.S., with more and more people living in communities where wildfires are a real risk.

Dispose of branches, weeds, leaves, pine needles, and grass clippings to reduce fuel for fire.

Remove leaves, pine needles, and other flammable material from the roof, gutters, and on or under the deck to help prevent embers from igniting your home.

Remove dead vegetation and other flammable materials, especially within the first five feet of the home.

Move construction material, trash, and woodpiles at least 30 feet away from the home and other outbuildings.

Stop by for the last of these 5 tips tomorrow.

As warmer weather nears NFPA offers 6 key tips to safely tackle spring cleaning - Tip #4Inspect grills to ensure they’r...
04/19/2026

As warmer weather nears NFPA offers 6 key tips to safely tackle spring cleaning - Tip #4

Inspect grills to ensure they’re in good working order

Inspect your grill carefully and make sure it’s free of grease or fat buildup. Clean out any nests, spider webs, or other debris you may find.

For propane grills, check the gas tank hose for leaks before using it for the first time each year.

Stop back tomorrow for tip #5

As warmer weather nears NFPA offers 6 key tips to safely tackle spring cleaning - Tip #3Use/store flammable and combust...
04/18/2026

As warmer weather nears NFPA offers 6 key tips to safely tackle spring cleaning - Tip #3

Use/store flammable and combustible liquids with care

Flammable and combustible liquids should not be used near an open flame.
Never smoke when working with these liquids.

If you spill liquids on your clothing, remove your clothing and place it outside to dry. Once dry, clothing can be laundered.

Keep liquids in their original containers. Keep them tightly capped or sealed. Never store the liquids in glass containers.

Stop back tomorrow for tip #4

As warmer weather nears NFPA offers 6 key tips to safely tackle spring cleaning - Tip #2 Carefully dispose of rags with...
04/17/2026

As warmer weather nears NFPA offers 6 key tips to safely tackle spring cleaning - Tip #2

Carefully dispose of rags with paint and stain

The oils commonly used in oil-based paints and stains release heat as they dry. If the heat is not released in the air as the rags dry, the heat is trapped, builds up and can cause a fire.

Never leave cleaning rags in a pile. When you’re finished using the rags, take them outside to dry, keeping them well away from the home and other structures.

Hang rags outside or spread them on the ground and weigh them down so that they don’t blow away.

Put dried rags in a metal container, making sure the container is tightly covered. Fill the container with a water and detergent solution, which will break down the oils.

Keep containers of oily rags in a cool place out of direct sunlight and away from other heat sources. Check with your town for information on how to properly dispose of them.

Stop back tomorrow for tip #3.

04/16/2026

April 16th 2026
Fire Danger: HIGH
No open burning today

Melted snow, budding trees, longer days: they’re all signs that the warmer months are nearing. For many of us, these sea...
04/16/2026

Melted snow, budding trees, longer days: they’re all signs that the warmer months are nearing. For many of us, these seasonal hallmarks are reminders to start spring cleaning in and around our homes.

As people power up their lawnmowers, rake up debris, touch up chipped paint, and take on myriad projects to get their homes and yards ready for the months ahead, following are six key practices and supporting recommendations to help minimize the risk of fires and associated hazards:

As warmer weather nears NFPA offers 6 key tips to safely tackle spring cleaning

Today's tip:

Properly use and store gasoline

Use gasoline only as motor fuel, never as a cleaner or to break down grease.

Only store gasoline in a container that is sold for that purpose and never bring it indoors, even in small amounts.

Never store gasoline containers in a basement or in the occupied space of a building. Keep them in a detached garage or an outdoor shed.

Make sure the container is tightly capped when not in use.

Stop back tomorrow for tip #2.

Address

25 Quassuk Road
Woodbury, CT
06798

Opening Hours

Monday 7am - 4pm
Tuesday 7am - 4pm
Wednesday 7am - 4pm
Thursday 7am - 4pm
Friday 7am - 4pm

Telephone

203.263.320

Website

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