The Orange Volunteer Fire Department was called to the U Haul on the Boston Post Road at around 3:04 p.m. for a possible structure fire.

Within two minutes, Chief Charlie Gagel called for a second alarm, requested Rescue One, The Woodbridge FD Rapid Intervention Team and a pumper truck from West Haven. 

The Boston Post Road was shut down from near UHaul (and VIP) to the Indian River Road area while the firefighters laid out hoses and knocked down the fire.

Fire Marshal Tim Smith said the fire started in one of the bays of the maintenance garage in the rear portion of the property. He said two employees were working in the building and transfering gasoline from one container to another and the vapors found an ignition source that set it off.

"The employees tried to put the blaze out with fire extinguishers while they were calling 911, but it got away from them," Smith said. "They got out of there, and they didn't get hurt."

This incident had the potential for disaster with propane tanks, gasoline, other combustibles and vehicles inside, but thanks to a quick response, it was under control remarkably fast.

The Woodbridge Volunteer Firefighters had just finished their visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus event at their firehouse, when one of the junior firefighters heard the Orange tone come in.

The firefighters already were in their turnout gear — to look professional for all of Santa's visitors — and when they heard Chief Gagel tell Orange dispatch that he wanted the Woodbridge RIT, they immediately boarded a fire truck and waited to be toned out.

Since the Boston Post Road was a parking lot, they needed to use some strategic thinking to make it over to the U Haul building without getting stuck in traffic. Taking backroads, they pulled out beside Arby's restaurant and made their way down to the scene in very good time.

Thankfully, the RIT — a group of trained firefighters who go into a burning building to rescue other firefighters who are trapped or otherwise in trouble — wasn't needed, but the fire truck stood by in the street to help.

Smith said the building has moderate fire damage, and it will take a lot of clean up to get it back in shape, but it is structurally sound.

Later that evening, Woodbridge Firefighters were talking about Orange's ladder 37, saying what a nice vehicle it is and how useful it is for this type of situation.