Gas line break, fire closes I-95 in Milford

MILFORD, Conn. (WTNH) -- A gas main fuelled flames for hours under the high street bridge over 95.

"It's getting to be annoying now. For a minute it was exciting, but now it's starting to cut into productivity," Curtis Gulliford said.

Gulliford is part of the storm relief effort.

"It's kinda putting that in a standstill as well," Gulliford said.

He's on his way to Stanford to haul toppled trees, but got stopped short when firefighters say a damaged primary power line fell.

"The line did blow, hit the ground, jumped up, hit the gas line, ignited it and here we are," Capt. Thomas Thornberg, from Milford Fire said.

News 8's Stephanie Simoni was walking on the 95 South on ramp, something you would normally never be able to do, but they had to shut down 95 both ways while they worked to put out the fire.

"Just taking every safety precaution to keep everyone safe," Capt. Thornberg said.

Crews kept the bridge cool to prevent warping with a steady stream of water

While Southern Connecticut gas worked to turn off the 12'' main pipe, Gulliford got a front row seat to the action.

"So if it opens up, you'll be the first one on the highway," News 8's Simoni asked.

"Yeah, I'll be the first one going. We'll see."

After two hours, Gulliford got the go ahead. They opened 95 South. Two hours after he pressed the gas, Northbound opened back up.