Feb. 07--NEW HAVEN -- The Fire Department closed down two lanes on Interstate 91 near exit 8 as firefighters worked to extinguish a brush fire on the shore of the Quinnipiac River.
The 11:30 a.m. blaze charred about 4 acres, estimated fire Capt. Richard Rife, and forced Amtrak to close down its rail line for about 20 minutes. It also caused traffic delays in the northbound lanes of the highway.
"Because of the wind, it got ahead of us," Rife said of the fire. "The main thing was to keep it from jumping the tracks. Once you do that it kind of burns itself out."
Firefighters had four engine companies on the highway.
Rife said firefighters respond to a lot this time of year because of the dry conditions.
"All it takes is a cigarette out the window," he said. "We were actually there last week for the same thing."
Copyright 2012 - New Haven Register, Conn.
