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Fire Damages Branford Building Supply's Hardware Store

Update: In information shared later the same day, at approximately 2 p.m. on Nov. 6, Branford Fire Department noted Fire Marshal Rob Dobuzinsky had determined the cause of the fire was accidental, due to "improper disposal of rags used to clean up a spilled wood finishing product. The spill occurred the previous afternoon. Physical and video evidence along with employee interviews led to this determination."

A fire that broke out early this morning in the hardware store of Branford Building Supply severely damaged the store, but reportedly did not impact business offices and accounting systems on the second floor, and that's good news, said Giordano family members who came out to the scene at their downtown business, 1145 Main St.

The two-alarm fire, which consumed store inventory as its spread, was quickly knocked down once it was discovered by Branford Fire Department (BFD) with mutual aid from several area towns. Smoke and fire inside the building triggered an automatic alarm at 5 a.m.  at Branford Fire headquarters. The first on the scene reported smoke visible from the gate at the company's Main Street entrance, and saw fire through the main window of the store upon entering the site, said Branford Fire Chief Thomas Mahoney.

"They called in a working fire, which escalates to bring in more help and brings mutual aid," said Mahoney, speaking to Zip06/The Sound from the scene shortly after the response was completed.

In addition to BFD, fire response came in from Guilford, East Haven and North Branford fire departments.

"We went in and found the fire inside and quickly knocked it down, but due to the extent of the fire and the type of building it is, a hardware store with a lot of fuel load, it took us a while to chase it around. But ultimately, it was contained," said Mahoney.

One Branford firefighter experienced a minor injury during the response and was sent to be checked out, no other injuries were reported.

BFD Incident Commander Jay Karpovich said the fire was out and the building secured within an hour and a half of arriving at the scene. With the fire involving the central part of the building, the fire companies attacked by stretching lines through the front door and second entrance, "...and they met in the middle," said Karpovich.

The source of the fire is under investigation and results of the investigation are expected to take quite a while, said Karpovich.

BFD was on the scene to fight the fire within "minutes" of the report, said Karpovich, who also thanked the companies from surrounding towns for providing a quick response to the scene. With a lumber supply yard in close proximity to the building, it could have been a much worse outcome, he said, adding the group of firefighters who came out and did their job this morning are "totally awesome."

"I'm super proud of these guys. They did a great job," said Karpovich.

Third-generation Branford Building Supply co-owners and brothers Vincent and Mike Giordano said this isn't the first time the company has experienced a fire and come through.  Both can easily recall the 1999 fire which burned down a supply barn at the site, and said they once again will regroup and move forward.  The brothers' children, fourth-generation family members, now also manage the business.

Mike Giordano said the building which caught fire was the first office building constructed for the company, which was established by his grandparents, Michael and Genevieve Giordano, in 1935, by selling cement, at first.

"That was the original building," he said, adding that the family's iconic Victorian house fronting the lot on Main Street, which today is the company's window design gallery, was once their grandmother's "homestead." During World War II the property where the company has grown up was a Victory Garden that their grandmother planted, he said.

"Then, a little at time, it started with a platform, and that turned into the cement shed. My grandfather was a mason contractor, and when he got a pallet of cement, he put it in that barn," Mike Giordano said. "His paisans  used to come once in a while and say to my grandmother, 'Kitty, sell me a bag of cement – save me the trip to New Haven.' And she did. So one thing led to another, and the place just blossomed. It's a wonderful business."

Despite the obvious damage impacting the store and building, the Giordanos said they received some good news from the fire department at the scene this morning as the equipment, computers and other important materials in the upstairs offices of Branford Building Supplies appeared not to have been damaged or lost.

Vincent Giordano said he can't fathom how the fire started, but that everything that has been lost can be replaced, and their business will continue.  They both recalled how the fire of 1999 was "a fire made for the movies," said Mike Giordano.

"It was all of the back area, all of the lumber trucks, the barn," said Vincent Giordano.

Vincent Giordano said his son, Vinny, called him to let him know about the fire and Mike Giordano was contacted by his daughter Sarah, who were both at the site when they arrived. The brothers said their first concern was where the fire was located.

"And then when I heard it was in the store, I was grateful it wasn't a big, flaming fire. If the store got wiped out, the whole business would have gotten wiped out – it would have taken all the paper work, all the computers...everything would have gone up in smoke," said Mike Giordano.

Vincent Giordano said the company will look for a temporary business office location to operate from while continuing to operate the business, lumber and supply yard. Meanwhile, the building and hardware store will be restored.

"It's not the first time," Mike Giordano added, of coming back from a fire.

The Giordano family is also grateful to the fire departments which responded and quickly contained the fire, with "...huge thanks to the Branford Fire Department as well as East Haven, Guilford and North Branford Departments in support," said Vincent Giordano.

They also know that they will have the support of many friends, neighbors, customers and businesses in town.

"We've had a tremendous amount of support over the decades," said Mike Giordano.

Branford First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove said the town will certainly show its support for the family and this local company in the coming days and weeks.

"This is a business that has been here for several generations. It's sad to see, but fortunately everybody's safe," said Cosgrove. "The fire department did a great job in their response and saving it from spreading much further; and we're here to support the business and help them rebuild."