Emergency Declaration Will Be Terminated on Monday, December 2

HARTFORD, CT - Governor Ned Lamont today announced that due to the extensive nature of the critical fire weather conditions that Connecticut experienced over the last several weeks, he has signed an executive order (Executive Order No. 24-3) extending the deadline required under state law for volunteer fire departments to submit bills to the state seeking compensation for services rendered during this emergency.

Additionally, Governor Lamont today announced that due to recent rainfall in the last several days that has helped improve the situation, the emergency declaration he enacted on October 25, 2024, in response to these weather conditions will be terminated effective December 2, 2024.

“Volunteer fire departments have been an invaluable resource in helping extinguish several brush fires that ignited across Connecticut during these last several weeks of abnormally dry weather,” Governor Lamont said. “I am signing this executive order today because I want to ensure these volunteer fire departments have an opportunity to apply for the compensation they deserve for the services they’ve provided.”

Under existing state law, volunteer fire departments seeking compensation from the state for services rendered in extinguishing forest fires must submit bills to the State Forest Fire Warden within one month of those services being rendered. Utilizing the authority issued to him under the emergency declaration, the executive order Governor Lamont signed today modifies this law to give volunteer fire departments up to three months to submit these bills.

**Download: Governor Lamont’s Executive Order No. 24-3
**Download: Governor Lamont’s order terminating the declaration of civil preparedness emergency