It’s said a firefighter’s worst nightmare is responding to a fire at his own home.

     For the Brookhaven Fire Department’s Albert Brown Jr., that possibility became a reality late Wednesday afternoon. The veteran of more than 10 years with BFD was part of the crew that responded to the blaze at 408 Eitel Place Wednesday around 4:55 p.m.

     Brown watched stoically as his fellow firefighters put out the fire and checked damage at the home where he and his wife, Artasha, and two children live. Physically, he was fine, Brown said, but his mind was on what was happening before him.

     “I’m too messed up to fight my own house fire,” Brown said.

     In between hugs and words of consolation from neighbors and others, Artasha Brown said she was “devastated” by the fire. Eventually, she and Albert Brown entered the home to inspect the damage.

     “As bad as it is, it could have been a lot worse,” said Fire Chief Tony Weeks.

     No one was home when the fire started and there no injuries, the chief said.

     There was smoke damage throughout the home and heavier property damage in the kitchen and living room areas. Weeks said it appeared the fire started in the kitchen, but that was not confirmed on the scene late Wednesday.

     “We’ll get over here tomorrow and really look at it,” Weeks said.

     Firefighters were on scene until almost 8:30 p.m. Wednesday. The cause of the fire remained under investigation.

     While a fire at a firefighter’s home is unusual, Weeks indicated fires are always possible at their homes or anyone else’s.

     “A house fire can happen to anybody,” Weeks said. “They do not discriminate.”