Firefighters Battled Wind-Driven Blaze Into Pre-Dawn Hours Tuesday

EAST HAVEN, CT —What otherwise would have resembled a brilliant and fiery sunset sky, was instead a vast pampas grass blaze that East Haven firefighters with mutual aid from Branford, fought to contain, and knock down, for five hours late Monday night into the predawn hours Tuesday.

It was around 9:40 p.m. when East Haven fire responded to Prospect Place Extension for a report of a brush fire. When the first crew got there, they found a "large fire," East Haven Fire Department Chief Matthew Marcarelli told Patch.

The fire extended around 600 feet from the end of Prospect Place Extension, and being driven by heavy winds, was racing towards Coe Avenue, parallel to Proto Drive, "endangering nearby homes and businesses, some of which were briefly evacuated," Marcarelli said.

Marcarelli said an "initial fire attack" began on Prospect Place, while East Haven and Branford fire companies "established a defensive position" on Proto Drive.

"Due to the fire's location, an offensive attack from Proto Drive was impeded by thick marsh, but some progress was made on Prospect Place Extension," he said.

In firefighter jargon, Marcarelli explained that "five large caliber streams were deployed along Proto Drive and on elevated master stream from Truck 3, with two handlines operated from Prospect Place Extension". Eventually, he said, the "wind began to cooperate." The fire's fuel were phragmites, Marcarelli said, which were "being consumed" and the fire driven "towards our hose streams."

Firefighters had the blaze under control by 2 a.m. Tuesday. No firefighters were injured.

Marcarelli said the cause of the fire is undetermined and "will likely remain that way due to its location."

He said earlier reports of fireworks activity on Salerno Avenue were likely not the cause of the fire: "Due to the wind direction and its location, it is unlikely the source. East Haven Police had responded to the fireworks' complaint, but it was unfounded."

All career East Haven fire companies and volunteers responded along with Branford on "automatic aid," Marcarelli said.

And, the East Haven Ladles Auxiliary "provided much needed hydration to firefighters operating," he added. Mutual aid came from North Branford and New Haven fire departments for station coverage. Marcarelli thanked those companies "for their assistance."

Police told motorists to avoid the area of Coe Avenue between Dodge Avenue and Silver Sands Road as firefighters fought the blaze.