Police: Firefighters 'Saved' Small Businesses Battling Late Night Fire

NORTH BRANFORD, CT — Late Sunday night, the North Branford Fire Department's Company 1 Units were called to a structure fire at 280 Branford Road. Located in the Central Plaza, the call originated as a commercial automatic fire alarm in an adjacent unit, Smoke Spot Smoke Shop, first responders posted to Facebook.

According to the fire department, it was at 9:50 p.m., when the call came in. The first arriving units saw "visible fire from the roof of Great Wall Chinese Restaurant," located in the plaza. Soon, the North Branford Dispatch Center upgraded the assignment to a structure fire, adding Companies 2 and 3 to the assignment.

Firefighters said that hen Engine 1 arrived, it went to the rear of the property, deployed a ground ladder and sent crew to the roof of Great Wall Chinese. Soon the "visible fire was knocked down" with a hand line stretched through the rear of the building.

The fire was contained to the ventilation and the ceilings of the fire unit and the unit directly adjacent to it and by 10:23 p.m., the fire was placed under control.

The cause is currently under investigation by the Fire Marshall's office.

Firefighters thanked the East Haven and Walligford fire departments for providing station coverage during the incident.

The North Branford Police Department notedthat firefighters "knocked the fire down swiftly, saving multiple small businesses."

"Great job by North Branford Fire Department," police said. "Thankful for all the personnel responding to the scene tonight."