A fire-damaged suburban Connecticut home that firefighters found filled with dangerous fireworks is set to be burned down Thursday after officials decided that was the best way to dispose of the explosives.
Officials opted to set the Bruce Drive home ablaze and let the haul of commercial-grade fireworks explode during a “controlled burn” after a “significant” amount of the devices was found in the garage and reportedly wired to a control panel during a fire Saturday.
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 are not sure exactly how much explosive material is inside.
“The state police bomb squad, after consulting with the ATF, determined it was best to perform a controlled burn,” Stratton said.
It was not immediately clear what time the burn would begin Thursday afternoon.
Several homes on the street were evacuated early Thursday and will remain empty through about 4 p.m. or until the burn is complete, officials said.
The damaging fire broke out around 6:40 p.m. Saturday and was concentrated mainly in the garage of the home, officials said. When firefighters arrived, they saw the blaze at the front of the house before it snaked up to the second floor.
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 pop, thick gray clouds of smoke can be seen billowing up over the second story.
About 30 firefighters responded to the 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 fire has not yet been determined.
Police said they expect to file charges in the case.