Fire Marshal Phil Hawks said Thursday’s fire on Olivia Street was caused by smoking material, most likely a cigarette, that had fallen from an ashtray sitting on the rail of a front porch outside the third floor apartments.
The fire was an accident, Hawks said.
The embers ignited a mattress that was on the floor of the porch.
The fire then spread quickly to the neighboring apartment’s porch, where there was a great deal of “combustible materials,” such as clothes and papers, Hawks said.
The wind Thursday also helped the fire. A strong breeze is thought to have blown the ashtray off the porch railing and onto the mattress. In addition, the wind help the fire spread once it had started.
Damage is estimated somewhere around $200,000.
Hawks credited firefighters with knocking down the bulk of the fire within 60 seconds.
“The fire department did a real quick knockdown of the fire,” Hawks said.
However, flames did manage to enter the empty space between the third floor ceiling and the roof, which kept firefighters busy.
Hawks also noted that in 2004 the fire marshal ordered the building be brought up to fire code by removing several windows in the stairwell.
The property owner made the required upgrades.
Doing so sealed the building’s stairwell during Thursday’s fire, providing a safe exit for people in the apartment house.
Had the fire happened prior to 2004, the fire “may have been a different story,” Hawks said.
The Fire Marshal’s office regularly inspects multi-family dwellings.
The fire displaced 18 people in six apartments at 92-94 Olivia St. The Red Cross is helping those who were affected, including six children.
Tenants were able to go back into the apartments Thursday to retrieve some clothes and medication, Hawks said.
The building is most likely structurally sound, but there is smoke and water damage throughout.
Firefighters had to dump many of the belongings of one third-floor apartment into a large metal trash bin. They did do because they needed to alleviate the weight being placed on the soggy third floor, Hawks said.
HOW TO HELP
Officials from the Red Cross, Connecticut Region were in Derby Thursday and a coordinator is expected in the city again today (Friday, March 30).
Donations to the regional Red Cross can be made here.
In addition, Sarah Muoio, the executive director of the Derby Senior Center at 293 Main St., contacted the Valley Indy Friday morning to let residents know that the Senior Center is collecting items to help the fire victims.
Muoio is coordinating efforts with the Red Cross.
“Anyone who would like to make donations, food, clothing, hygienic items, etc., can drop them at the Senior Center from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday,” Muoio said.
To reach the Senior Center, call 203-736-1484.
In addition, Derby High School principal Greg Galliard said students and faculty there are also raising money to help the family of a local student displaced by the fire.
“Our goal is to raise $1,000 dollars from faculty, staff and students,” Galliard said in an e-mail.
The school wants to present the family with a Visa gift card by Thursday, April 5.
“Anyone that would like to donate can make checks out to Derby High School and the family will receive 100 percent of the money raised,” the principal said.
The address:
Derby High School
8 Nutmeg Avenue
Derby, CT 06418
