Crime & Safety

Weekend Camp Fire Suspected Cause of Land Trust Property Brush Fire

Branford Fire Department believes a weekend campfire started a 200 square-foot brush fire off the Stony Creek Trolley Trail.

Today just before 5 p.m. responded to the scene of a brush fire off Pleasant Point Road overlooking the Stony Creek Trolley Trail. An area about 200-square-feet was slowly burning reported Deputy Chief Tom Mahoney. The fire was located about 600 to 700 feet into the woods off the roadside nearby where a  student last spring.

Assistant Chief/Fire Marshal Shaun Heffernan said it appeared that teenagers were conjugating in the area of the fire, prior to crews arriving– possibly over the weekend. Mahoney added that empty beer cases and other garbage was strewn about the site. Remnants of a campfire not properly extinguished also gave indication that the brush fire was started by human activity, stated Mahoney. The exact cause and source of the fire remains under investigation.

A hiker called in the fire to and Engine 1 responded along with volunteer and volunteer (which also sent their brush truck to the scene).

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“As luck would have it, there was no wind today,” said Mahoney, “so that did us a big favor.” He called the fire “lazy” and noted that it slowly spread along the low brush and leaves.

Crews spent about one and half hours putting out the fire in order to ensure no return trip would be necessary.

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After this call, Branford Fire crews responded to an illegal burn at 53 East Industrial Road. Heffernan said a business owner was burning cardboard and various items illegally and received a warning.

Around 6 p.m., Branford Fire also responded to the scene of a motor vehicle accident on I95S at exit 56 where one female sustained moderate trauma according to officials and one male sustained injury but refused transport to the hospital. The two victims appeared to be traveling in a gray pick-up truck, which sustained front-end damage.

From 2 p.m. until 7 p.m. this evening, Branford Fire crews responded to 11 calls; those not listed in this story were minor fire incidents or medical emergencies. 


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