The scene on Caroline Street near Fifth Street Tuesday evening.
DERBY — A city firefighter was being evaluated at Griffin Hospital Tuesday night after being hit by a car while directing traffic at a fire scene.
The firefighter suffered a leg injury.
“He’s being checked out. He’s up there being evaluated,” Derby Fire Chief David Lenart said at about 9:15 p.m. Tuesday.
Update: Lenart said Wednesday morning the firefighter was treated and released from the hosptial.
Police are investigating.
The fire department was sent to 278 Caroline St. at about 6:40 p.m. after a person reported a fire in a neighboring apartment.
The precise cause and origin is under investigation by Derby Fire Marshal Phil Hawks’ office.
The apartment house was between Water Street and Fifth Street. The injured firefighter was hurt near Water Street.
Lenart said a small fire was found in the back deck area of a two-story apartment house. The fire was inside a wall. It was quickly extinguished, though firefighters had to carve holes in parts of the 143-year-old structure to make sure the fire didn’t travel further.
The tenants were not home, but rushed to the scene after someone told them what was happening. One of the tenants ran into the house as firefighters were wrapping up the scene to retrieve a dog. The animal was not hurt.
“That happens in these situations. We had advised the man not to do that, but emotions run high,” Lenart said.
Firefighters were on scene for more than an hour. The Ansonia Fire Department was called to the scene as well.
As firefighters put out the fire, Derby police responded to a report of a domestic disturbance on Caroline near Fifth Street and took several people into custody. That incident was called in by a first responder who was outside a residence when a fight started.
