Firefighters from three towns were called to a blaze that tore through a Derby house Thursday morning.
No injuries were reported in the fire, which was ruled accidental Thursday afternoon.
Fire crews were dispatched to the scene, a two-story multi-family house at 228 Derby Ave., about 8:45 a.m. on a report of a structure fire.
The home is directly across from the Beau Vue Arms condominium complex.
Smoke from the blaze could be seen for miles, and upon arrival firefighters found the home in flames, Derby Fire Department Chief Thomas Lenart Jr. said at the scene about 9:30 a.m.
“We had heavy fire on the second floor and the attic when we got here,” Lenart said. “We initially tried to go in, but because of the heavy fire, we backed everybody out for a minute, hit it from outside, then went back in.”
Article continues after video of the fire, courtesy of Scott Lazurek.
Crews were also initially unsure about whether anyone was inside, Lenart said.
“There were reports from the neighbors that the occupant might be trapped on the second floor,” Lenart said. “We conducted searches, but no one was in the house at the time.”
After determining the house was empty, Lenart said firefighters continued fighting the flames and had the blaze under control within 15 to 20 minutes.
But not without some difficulty.
“(The fire) got up into the attic, spread through the roof, then the attic floor collapsed down into the second floor,” he said.
Article continues after photos.
Fire Accidental, Cause Undetermined
Derby Fire Marshal Phil Hawks said Thursday afternoon that an investigation pinpointed the origin of the fire in a second-floor bedroom at the house and that the blaze would be ruled accidental, though whatever started it couldn’t be determined.
“We found the origin of where it is, but the actual cause is going to be listed as undetermined because we can’t say with 100 percent certainty what caused the fire to start,” Hawks said.
Hawks said investigators “have some ideas” about what could have caused the fire, but wouldn’t speculate without being certain.
The house is a two-family residence, but the first floor had been unoccupied since last year.
A woman lives with her daughter on the second floor of the home, Hawks said.
The Red Cross was at the scene of the blaze Thursday morning and would provide shelter to the family Thursday night, Hawks said.
Firefighters from Derby, Shelton, and Ansonia responded to the fire but had begun clearing the scene by about 9:30 a.m.
Derby Avenue was closed in the area of the fire as crews fought the blaze but had opened by late morning Thursday.
