Connecticut crews are headed to the western states to help battle wildfires.
A 20-person crew, including state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection staff, local residents and firefighters, and two firefighters from New Hampshire, will leave Friday for Denver, Colo., where they will receive a specific assignment.
The crew is trained and certified and part of a reciprocal aid program through the US Forest Service. Under this program, trained crews from across the country are available to respond to fire emergencies.
Firefighters have responded to over 3.9 million acres of fires so far this year, an area larger than the state of Connecticut. Currently, the Rocky Mountain Area Coordinator Center is managing several large fires burning 225,000 acres in their region.
