Bomb squad deliberately burns down Conn. home after finding enormous trove of fireworks inside
A suburban Connecticut home that firefighters found filled with dangerous fireworks was intentionally burned down Thursday after officials decided that was the best way to dispose safely of the explosives.
Officials opted to set the Bruce Drive home aflame and let the haul of commercial-grade fireworks explode during a “controlled burn” after firefighters responded to a blaze in the garage Saturday — and then found a “significant” amount of the devices reportedly wired to a control panel.
Deputy Police Chief Kevin Stratton told the Shelton Herald that it was just easier to burn the home and let the fireworks go off, especially since authorities were not sure exactly how much explosive material was inside.
Video of the controlled burn showed the home engulfed in flames with plumes of thick, black smoke rising from the charred property.
Earlier Thursday, several homes on the street were evacuated in preparation.
The fire that led to the dangerous discovery broke out around 6:40 p.m. Saturday and was concentrated mainly in the garage of the home, officials said.
Firefighters were not told that there were fireworks inside the home until they arrived “and the initial hose line was deployed and the crews observed the fireworks going off,” Deputy Fire Chief Paul Wilson said.
The fireworks were reportedly also kept in the basement of the home, officials wrote on Facebook.
Video taken at the scene Saturday shows the home’s garage aflame as green and red fireworks pop out of the growing flames.
As the fireworks explode, thick gray clouds of smoke can be seen billowing up over the second story.
About 30 firefighters responded to the Saturday blaze, which they were able to put out in about 40 minutes.
No one was injured in the blaze but the home was left inhabitable, displacing a family of three and their dog.
Fire Marshal James Tortora said the danger to firefighters increases anytime fireworks or explosives are involved, putting first responders at even greater risk, “especially if the amount and types are unknown.”
A cause for the garage fire had not yet been determined.
Police said they expect to file charges in the case.
