Several elderly tenants escaped as a fast-moving fire tore through a multi-family house on Olivia St. Monday.
Derby Fire Chief William Nicoletti said firefighters believe the fire started on a stove in a first-floor kitchen of the three-story house. The fire quickly worked its way inside the walls and into the attic of the 121-year-old home.
There were no injuries reported.
The fire marshal’s office is investigating, but people at the scene said an elderly woman on the first floor may have fallen while she was cooking.
The fire was reported at 12:48 p.m. Firefighters were on the scene in four minutes.
Judy Barton said she was visiting with her 80-year-old mother in a second-floor apartment when she smelled burnt food.
“Within a couple of minutes I noticed smoke coming from underneath the sink,” Barton said. “I said to my mom, ‘Let’s get out.’”
The first-floor resident — the landlord — was already out of the home. No one was home in a third-floor apartment.
They exited through a back door because the front of the house was clogged with smoke. Barton called 911, then ran down the street to the Storm Engine Co.
“But within a couple of minutes, all the smoke — you couldn’t even see the house,” Barton said.
The call came in as 182 Olivia — but property tax records listed the home as being 180 Olivia. The listed owner is Louise Vitello.
It took about 30 minutes to get the fire under control. Derby called in Shelton and Ansonia for mutual aid. Firefighters from Orange were called in to cover Derby in case another call came in.
“It was a quick-spreading fire,” Fire Chief Nicoletti said.
About 50 firefighters were at the scene.There was fire damage on all three floors.
The majority of firefighters started to clear the scene at 2:30 p.m. The fire chief and others were there until at least 6:30 p.m.
Nicoletti said the Red Cross would be contacted if anyone needed temporary housing. However, the tenants were making arrangements with relatives.
— Reporters Jodie Mozdzer and Tony Spinelli contributed to this report.
