Rekindle of Controlled Burn at Transfer Station Leads to Early Morning Investigation

At approximately 1:40 a.m. wednesday morning, The East Haddam Volunteer Fire Department received a call to respond to an "outdoor smoke investigation", after an area resident called in to report a "strong odor of wood or paper burning" in the area of Sipples Hill Road (Route 149), Westwood Drive and Mott Lane in Moodus.

A full crew responded with several trucks and firefighters were able to quickly ascertain that the cause of the strong smoke odor was caused by a "re-kindle" of a controlled burn at the East Haddam Transfer Station on Nichols Road.  The controlled burn was from the previous day, when discarded brush and leaves were being burned at the station.

Due to higher humidity levels (usually higher in the lake area as a general rule) and rising temperatures, the smoke was stronger than usual and permeated the area. The fire was extinguished shortly thereafter, and the crews were dismissed.