ANSONIA – Businesses were evacuated while crews tackled a laundromat appliance fire on North Main Street Wednesday evening (Jan. 28).
There were no reported injuries from the fire. North Main Street was closed to traffic between Third and Fourth streets as of 8 p.m.
About 30 firefighters responded to a call at around 7:26 p.m. reporting a structure fire at A.C. Washing Well (133 N. Main St). Upon arrival, crews found smoke had spread through the building and into surrounding businesses, according to Ansonia Fire Chief Jay Fainer.
Firefighters evacuated the neighboring Domino’s and Daily Mart convenience store while they searched for the origin of the smoke. Fainer said the inside of a dryer had caught on fire, and that some flames had spread into an exhaust pipe.
The fire had been extinguished by 8 p.m. and the fire marshal’s office was on scene. Crews placed a fan inside the building to ventilate the smoke.
One nearby employee told The Valley Indy that the building started smelling like smoke just before firefighters came in and told employees to leave the building.
Firefighters from Derby and Seymour provided mutual aid.
Other stores at the commercial plaza include the Pupuseria Acajutla restaurant and North Main Package Store.