HAMDEN, Conn. – A dog in Connecticut faced a risky mountaintop rescue after being bitten by a venomous copperhead snake. 

The terrain at Sleeping Giant State Park in Hamden was extremely treacherous as firefighters and local animal control officers rushed to the scene Wednesday to provide the dog with urgent medical attention. 

A team of six people, including the dog’s owner, worked together to move the injured dog to safety on a stretcher. 

“Thank you goes out to the two firefighters who did most of the carrying,” expressed Hamden Animal Control on social media, along with photos of the rescue operation.

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The dog received antivenom and is currently under observation at a local animal.

“This is just a reminder to be careful out there, there are northern copperheads at Sleeping Giant,” animal control officers warned. “Their habitat includes rocky hillsides, open woods, as well as edges of swamps and meadows.”

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Connecticut is home to two venomous snake species: the timber rattlesnake and the northern copperhead. 

Wildlife officials emphasize that these snakes are not aggressive and will only bite if threatened or handled; if left undisturbed, they do not pose a threat to people.

LINK: Get updates on this story at more at foxweather.com.

Several people in Bridgeport are being provided shelter after a lightning strike caused a structure fire Friday night.

Bridgeport firefighters responded to 80 Lindley St. around 8 p.m. for reports of lightning striking the roof of a multi-family home, according to Bridgeport’s Director of Public Information Tiadora Josef. As firefighters arrived to the home, flames were observed coming from the roof area. The fire was quickly put out and no injuries were reported.

The Red Cross is providing shelter for six adults, two children, and two pets that lived inside the home.  The fire is being investigated by the Fire Marshal’s Office.

Stephen Underwood can be reached at sunderwood@courant.com

WEST HAVEN, CT — West Haven has been awarded a $1.2 million state grant as part of a funding package that benefits 22 environmentally contaminated properties in 17 towns, according to officials.

Gov. Ned Lamont announced Friday that he has approved a series of state grants totaling $26.3 million that will be used to support the remediation and redevelopment of 130 acres of contaminated land throughout Connecticut, consisting of 22 properties located in 17 towns and cities.

The funds will support the communities with the costs of cleaning up these properties so they can be redeveloped and put back into productive use to support economic growth and housing needs.

The grants are being released through the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development’s Brownfield Remediation and Development Program. These state investments are expected to leverage approximately $112.7 million in private investments, which is critical to bringing these 22 properties back into productive reuse.

“Nobody wants to have old, polluted, and blighted properties in their neighborhood that sit vacant for decades, especially when that land could be used to grow new businesses and create housing for people who need it,” Lamont said. “This state program enables us to partner with municipalities and developers to bring these lifeless properties back from the dead.”

See the grant details below:

• West Haven: $1,187,270 grant to abate hazardous building materials on the 1.53-acre property located at 66 Tetlow Street. The former elementary school will be the future site of the Shoreline Wellness Center and Behavioral Health Clinic that will provide mental healthcare services.