When North Branford Firefighters responded to a fire at a Wilford Road home on June 20, quick action by the first crew entering the structure to isolate the main fire by shutting it in with a bedroom door until the first hose handline could be laid, was a perfect example of “close before you doze,” stated North Branford Fire Company No. 1, in a post at its Facebook page.

“On arrival, firefighters had moderate fire showing from the A side of a split-level home. The first crew entering the structure made their way to the fire room and isolated it with the bedroom door, keeping the fire in check until the first handline was in place. These crucial actions helped contain the majority of the fire to the room of origin. Residential wood doors can buy you critical minutes in the event of a fire in your own home; close your bedroom doors before going to sleep.”

The NBFD Co. 1 Facebook page shared a photo of the bedroom door following the fire and photos of the house fire and NBFD on the scene, taken by bystanders.

According to information shared by NBFD, Company 1 was dispatched at 6:24 p.m. to Wilford Road for the report of a second-floor fire at the split-level home. Company 1 was on the scene within six minutes of the call, followed shortly by Engine 1 arriving to place a handline in service on the second floor. The main body of the fire was knocked down by 6:39 p.m., and the incident was placed under control by incident command. Units cleared the scene at 8 p.m.

The incident response included an additional tanker requested from the Guilford Fire Department. Northford Acres Vol. Co. 3 and NBFD Co.2 assisted on scene. East Wallingford Volunteer Fire Department, Station 8; and East Haven Foxon Vol. Co. 3 assisted with station coverage.

NBFD also noted the incident is currently under investigation by the North Branford Fire Marshal’s office and North Branford Police Department.