Brush Fire On Branford Land Trust Site Could Have Been Far Worse

BRANFORD, CT —A brush fire on Branford Land Trust property near Orchard Avenue on a recent Sunday winter's night was ultimately stopped by firefighters, who had to climb 100 feet of steep rugged terrain in the dark in frigid temperatures to control the blaze before it spread to nearby homes.

Knocking down the potentially devastating brush fire, driven by cold gusty winds, took the "full resources" of the Branford Fire Department, mutual aid from the North Branford Volunteer Fire Department, and paid off-duty firefighters "brought in on overtime," Branford Fire Department Chief Tom Mahoney said.

Firefighters had to navigate through rocky and precipitous woodlands at night with no hydrants nearby.

And, as it "tied up" all the available firefighters, combating a brush fire that could have been prevented, was a dangerous all-hands effort "potentially delaying a response to a more serious incident," Mahoney said.

Mahoney said the cause of the blaze was "likely an unattended, illegal campfire."

Anyone with information about the fire should call Branford police at (203) 481-4241.

It should not have happened. Fires in wooded areas are prohibited, and dangerous.

The Branford Land Trust noted that that night, Jan. 24, was very clear, cold, and windy with the "NFL playoffs on TV."

"Fortunately, observant neighbors saw the fire and dialed 911," wrote board member Jonathan Katz in a press release forward to Patch noting his gratitude to those neighbors, and to firefighters: "The BLT is grateful to those neighbors, and to the members of the Branford Fire Department who braved freezing temperatures and a 100-foot climb to put out the one-acre fire before it spread further and got worse. We also thank the firefighters in neighboring towns who responded to the Fire Department’s call for mutual aid."

And he made clear that the fire was not only a dangerous event, it greatly affected the community. And, a brush fire of this sort did not happen on its own.

"It’s important note the impact to the people of our community: the neighbors who saw the blaze spread and feared for their homes; the firefighters who responded and put themselves in danger fighting the fire on rough, steep terrain, far from roads and hydrants; the firefighters’ families, whose lives were disrupted; the people in the neighborhood who are now thinking about what happened, what almost happened, and what to do about it; and the BLT volunteers who must evaluate appropriate steps to avoid a recurrence," Katz wrote.

The land trust says its rules for folks who use its properties are "straightforward: no fires. "

Katz wrote that no one should set any kind of fire "in our woodlands."

"Even contained fires, in fire pits, are not allowed," he wrote. "They’re not safe, and they damage the woods."

Katz also pointed out that "even in January, in the depth of winter, the forest floor is dry, and loaded with fuel."

"A carelessly tossed cigarette or a match that is not quite out is enough to start a fire. In dry, windy conditions, the fire can spread rapidly, and be out of control in seconds," he said. "If left undetected, it will continue to grow, burn woodlands, and threaten surrounding homes and buildings, until the fire department is alerted."

He said it's "always 'fire season' in Connecticut."

Katz asked that neighbors, "Keep your eyes open. There are no exceptions to our 'no fires' rule."

"If you see a fire on Land Trust property, dial 911 immediately. It is far better for our first responders to put out the small fires, than for people to watch them grow," he said. "Also, if you see something on Land Trust property that doesn’t look right, speak up. Call us. Call the police. 'If you see something, say something.'”

Here are the Branford Land Trust's rules for use of its property:

The land trust encourages public use of specific parcels of its properties for the enjoyment and appreciation of nature. Some parcels are not suitable for public access due to terrain, wetness, or ecological sensitivity, and we ask that those parcels be enjoyed visually only. We ask that users stay on designated trails. On properties where BLT encourages passive recreation the following rules apply:

• Public access is permitted only between one half hour before sunrise and one half hour after sunset.
• No fires.
• No camping.
• No removal of any flora or fauna, or of any stone, gravel, or soil.
• No littering. If you carry it in, carry it out.
• Dogs should be on a leash or under close control.
• No motorized vehicles of any type.
• No hunting, shooting or trapping.
• No improvements or construction of any kind: no fire pits, lean-tos, rope swings, clearing of campsites, or installation of tree stands.
• No digging, metal detecting or other prospecting for items, and no removal of any found items. All fixtures and personal property (including any evidence of human activity and any found objects) located on BLT land are property of BLT.
• All persons entering onto BLT land do so at their own risk, and are solely responsible for their own safety. BLT assumes no liability for any personal injury or property damage resulting from any public use of any BLT property.

OFF-ROAD BICYCLE USE: Bicyclists are welcome to ride the trails on most BLT properties if they follow these guidelines:

• Use existing trails unless posted. Do not ride off the trails.
• Respect and yield to walkers.
• Respect signs prohibiting bicycle use on specific properties.
• Cutting of trees, branches, shrubs, or other vegetation is not allowed. If a tree or branch has fallen onto the trail or needs to be trimmed, contact the BLT Trails Committee with information about the location of the problem (info @ branfordlandtrust.org, 203-483-5263).
• Construction of jumps or other ‘enhancements’ and modification of trail treadways (for example, ‘banking’ the sides) is strictly prohibited. Such activities, if observed, will result in the closing of the trails for all bicyclists.