April 11--A huge pile of brush from the storms of last year erupted in fire Tuesday, bringing firefighters from North Haven and North Branford to the sprawling Borrelli Farm.
No one was injured.
About 40 firefighters were stationed around the approximately 10-acre hill of tree remnants, stumps and brush to keep the rolling fire away from a forested area on the North Branford side of the farm off Warner Road in North Haven.
Firefighters left the scene shortly before 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, after property owner Lewis Borrelli set up an irrigation system around the perimeter of the pile, according to North Branford Fire Chief William Seward.
Borrelli agreed that his equipment would apply water to the pile all night.
"We're hoping, with the water he applies, it will cool it down enough so that heavy equipment can have access to the pile" today, Seward said.
PHOTOS: Brush fire in North Branford
It is expected firefighters will be at the scene several more days to put out hot spots and overhaul the charred brush and tree stumps with heavy equipment and more water.
The low humidity, wind and lack of significant rain have created the perfect storm for brush fires across the state, with this week's conditions being the worst, according to News 8 meteorologist Steve MacLaughlin.
Firefighters in Milford Tuesday continued to fight a brush fire that began near Schoolhouse Road and Bridgeport Avenue Monday evening and ended up destroying 50 acres and sections of the Beaverbrook recreation boardwalk, officials said Tuesday. As of Tuesday afternoon, the fire still was not fully extinguished, fire Capt. Chris Zak said. The fire halted rail traffic, closed exit ramps on Interstate 95 and produced smoke that could be seen for miles.
Milford Mayor Ben Blake said it was too soon to say what might happen to the damaged boardwalk or if the area is passable.
Blake praised firefighters for ensuring no one was injured, and that no buildings were destroyed.
Tuesday's Borrelli Farm fire also was seen for miles, and a slight rain late Tuesday afternoon had no impact on the fire.
It's been about a month since the area's last big rainstorm, and a strong northwesterly wind pushing through the region takes more moisture out of the ground and air, MacLaughlin said. "It's just a spring pattern we've been locked in," he explained.
He did say that scattered showers Tuesday and some expected today will help.
Seward said someone reported the fire from 1003 Middletown Ave. at about 2:14 p.m., but the fire was not at that location. What firefighters found was a large brush fire behind the farm.
The immediate challenge is there's no water supply in the area, said Seward. North Haven and North Branford fire trucks alternately left the scene to get water from hydrants until North Branford firefighters later in the afternoon set up a system to take water from a pond on the farm property.
"Once the fire is extinguished, we have to get heavy equipment up there to pull it apart and continue applying water," said Seward. "It will be an extended operation."
The major objective was to keep the fire away from hills of trees and two radio towers and a cellphone tower at the North Branford/North Haven line, Seward said. The wind was blowing in that direction, North Haven Fire Chief Vincent Landisio said. No structures were threatened.
Firefighters from East Haven were called in for mutual aid in North Branford. It was determined later in the day that the fire was entirely in North Branford, so North Haven's role will be to monitor and assist, Landisio said.
Landisio early on in the incident said he didn't know whether something spontaneously combusted. But his immediate concern was putting out the fire. The cause and the starting point won't be found until the gigantic pile is overturned. "I have no idea what's in there," Landisio said.
Borrelli said North Haven's damaged limbs and stumps from Tropical Storm Irene and the October snowstorm were in the pile, which is on the North Branford side of his land.
"This pile can burn for days. As long as we can prevent it from spreading, we'll be OK," said Landisio.
Yellow-brown smoke rolled through the piles of stumps and brush as firefighters hosed down the blaze. Crews of firefighters sprayed water on the rear side of the hill. Toward the front, Montowese volunteer Firefighter Frank DeStefano was spraying from another angle and, at one point, a rainbow emerged when the water interacted with the light.
Call Ann DeMatteo at 203-789-5716. Follow her on Twitter @AnnDDeMatteo. Milford Bureau Chief Brian McCready and reporter Susan Misur contributed to this story.
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