4 Families Displaced After Shore Drive House Fire: Chief

BRANFORD, CT —Just before 2 p.m. Friday, several 911 callers reported a fire at 80 Shore Drive.

Branford Fire Department Chief Tom Mahoney told Patch the members of four families in the house evacuated and that no firefighters or first responders were injured.

Mahoney said the first calls were from neighboring business and passers-by. When firefighters arrived, they were met with a fire directly inside the front door of the home. He said that while firefighters managed to quickly knock it down, "fire definitely got up into the second floor and ceiling." Mahoney said given the high winds Friday, firefighters will "go back periodically" over the course of the day to check the house.

Meanwhile, the town's building inspector said the house is not habitable and, Mahoney said, the town will "secure" the house; it will be boarded up.

Mahoney said that when firefighters arrived, they searched the house: "Everyone got out, including the dog."

Mahoney said the Red Cross was called in to assist the families, some will stay with relatives, others will be put up in hotels. Mahoney said that Branford Counseling & Community Services is also involved and will "look to the long term until the families can get back on their feet."

Mutual aid was initially requested from Guilford and East Haven but was ultimately not needed.

Mahoney noted that as of Friday afternoon, the Branford Fire Department had already responded to 19 calls for service, including responding to a car accident that occurred while firefighters were still at Shore Drive. He said volunteers from Stony Creek stepped in to help.