Fire Leaves Highland Avenue House Uninhabitable

"Careless smoking" is being cited as the cause of a fire that left a Highland Avenue house uninhabitable today.

No one was injured in the blaze, which was reported by a neighbor at approximately 4:30 p.m. Assistant Chief Shaun Heffernan said firefighters arrived at 15 Highland Ave. and observed smoke and flames coming from the front living room window of the single-family residence.

It was initally reported that the occupant was still inside the home, so firefighters quickly knocked down the flames and conducted a search of the structure, Heffernan said. The search, which was hindered by many items scattered throughout the home, turned up no results. The occupant was reportedly at the store.

Heffernan, who is also the department's fire marshal, said the cause was determined to be careless smoking. He did not disclose an estimate of damages, but said a portion of the first floor had to be gutted and the house is not livable.

"The ocupant will be working in conjuction with the Branford Counseling Center to arrange temporary housing," he said.

The department responded to the fire with three engine trucks, a ladder truck, an ambulance and the deputy chief's vehicle. Heffernan praised firefighters' efforts.

"They did a phenonaml job," he said. "The proximity of houses in that neighborhood are such that we could have easily lost more than one dwelling.”

The last unit cleared the scene at approximately 6:15 p.m.