BRANFORD:
Despite the fierce flames there were plenty of smiles when this house on East Main Street went up in smoke last weekend. The fire department conducted a controlled burn of the structure as part of the YMCA construction plans.
More than 100 residents showed up for the kick off to the YMCA’s home stretch toward construction of its new facility. Traffic along Route 1 slowed to a crawl as even more on-lookers watched the fire department keep the conflagration at bay.
Branford Fire Department Chief Jack Ahern said these burns are invaluable training for the men and women of his department. According to Ahern, the department conducts about six of these controlled events every year, and would prefer to stage even more.
“We used to have a training facility on Pleasant Point Road, but had to abandoned that facility, so these burns are very important to us,” Ahern said. “This is excellent training for our members.”
Pictured: The Branford Fire Department–and a large contingent of
onlookers–kept a close eye on the controlled burn on the East Main
Street house. The burn was part of the YMCA construction plans.
Photo by Ben Rayner