The Derby fire marshal’s office is investigating a fire that started in the basement of a single-family house at 130 Mount Pleasant St. Wednesday afternoon.
There were no injuries reported. The homeowner, Steven Sekelski, was too shook up to talk to the Valley Indy.
Derby Fire Department Assistant Chief Thomas Lenart, Jr. said Sekelski arrived at his house at about 2:30 p.m. and saw smoke pouring out of it. He called 911 on his cell phone and was connected to state police, who rerouted the call to Shelton. Shelton dispatched their firefighters, then quickly transferred the call to Derby.
Lenart said Derby firefighters still managed to get to the scene within a few minutes. The first firefighters on the scene saw heavy smoke coming from the basement. They stretched a hose line and put out the flames.
“The fire extended up to the first floor of the home in a few places,” Lenart said. The initial knockdown of the fire took about 10 minutes.
Fire had spread up the wall to the upper floor and ignited again at about 3:30 p.m. The scene was again under control at 4 p.m.
Lenart said the basement was gutted, with fire damage on the first floor and extensive smoke damage throughout the home.