Close The Windows Litchfield County, Great Barrington is Burning

I didn't notice it in Brookfield when I left work at Noon today, but I sure as hell smell it now that I'm home in Torrington. If you live in Litchfield County, you might want to close up your windows this afternoon, a 100+ acre wildfire is cooking in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.

I just took the photo you see above on the Naugatuck River in Torrington looking to our Northwest, Great Barrington, Massachusetts is 40+ miles away from where I'm standing, but you can smell the pine trees burning. According to an update posted an hour ago from the Town of Great Barrington at townofgb.com, a wildfire estimated to be at 100+ acres is burning it's way across East Mountain in the area of Brush Hill Road at this hour. Crews from all over Berkshire County have sent personnel and equipment to the scene.

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The Great Barrington Fire Department is urging everyone to avoid the area and have asked private drone operators specifically to stay away and not to hinder their efforts.

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has commented on the fire on DEEP's social media stating that the smoke has been reported to have reached as far South into Connecticut as Southington and New Haven. I didn't smell anything as I was driving through Waterbury earlier, but it's heavy North of Thomaston on Route 8. CT DEEP also suggests that if you're sensitive to smoke, you may want to stay inside this evening. The smell is not overpowering, it's actually pleasant, but the haze will irritate those who are sensitive.