Firefighters have found a suburban Connecticut home damaged by fire packed with dangerous fireworks, but authorities plan to burn it down Thursday after deciding that’s the best way to dispose of the explosives.
After a “significant” amount of fireworks were found in the garage during Saturday’s blaze and reportedly wired to a control panel, authorities opted to set fire to the Bruce Drive home and detonate a large amount of commercial-use fireworks in a “controlled burn.”
Deputy Police Chief Kevin Stratton told the Shelton Herald. It would have been easier to just burn the house down and set off fireworks, especially since we don’t know exactly how many explosives there were inside.
“The State Police Bomb Squad, after consulting with the ATF, determined that a controlled burn would be the best course of action,” Stratton said.
It was not immediately clear what time the burning would begin Thursday afternoon.
Officials said several homes along the street were evacuated early Thursday and will remain unoccupied until about 4 p.m., or until the fire is complete.
According to officials, the damaging fire started around 6:40 p.m. Saturday and was primarily contained to the home’s garage. When firefighters arrived on scene, they observed flames at the front of the home that had spread up to the second floor.
Firefighters were not informed there were fireworks inside the home until they arrived on scene, when hoses were first deployed and crews saw fireworks being set off, Deputy Fire Chief Paul Wilson said.
Fireworks were also reportedly stored in the home’s basement. officials wrote on Facebook.
Video taken at the scene on Saturday showed the home’s garage ablaze and green and red fireworks shooting out of the flames.
As the fireworks explode, thick grey smoke can be seen billowing above the second floor.
About 30 firefighters were called in to douse the blaze, which was put out in about 40 minutes.
No one was injured in the blaze, but the home was left uninhabitable and a family of three and their dog were forced to evacuate.
Fire Commissioner James Tortora said there is an increased risk to firefighters whenever fireworks or explosives are involved, and emergency personnel are at even greater risk, “especially when the quantity and type are unknown.”
The cause of the fire has yet to be determined.
Police said they plan to lay charges in the case.
