On Tuesday, March 19, 2019, at approximately 10:43 p.m., the Milford Fire Department as well as State Environmental Conservation (EnCon) Police and other agencies responded to Silver Sands State Park to a report of a structure fire involving three buildings that were under construction. The fires were extinguished within approximately two hours. The three buildings were extensively damaged. EnCon Police, State Fire Marshal and other agencies are currently on the scene investigating. No one was injured.

Milford officials have reached out to DEEP to offer their support and coordination.

Officials from the Department of Administrative Services (DAS), which oversees the construction, have already begun coordinating meetings with the contractor and DEEP to determine next steps for the project.

Statement from Commissioner Katie Dykes: “DEEP is grateful for the efforts of the Milford Fire Department and other responding agencies. The park will remain closed for as long as necessary to investigate the fire and protect the safety of the public. Though we are saddened by the loss of the buildings under construction, the most important thing is that no one was injured fighting the fire.”