Photo by Eugene Driscoll
Derby Fire Marshal Phil Hawks takes photos at the scene.
DERBY — There were no injuries during a fire in a three-story apartment house on Anson Street Tuesday morning.
Smoke was reported inside the building at 49 Anson St. about 6 a.m.
The first firefighters on scene saw smoke coming from the eaves above the third-floor windows.
About a dozen people were inside the apartment house, including a man in a wheelchair, and a family with several children.
The apartment house — with has the Derby Deli Mini Market on the first floor — is balloon-frame construction, an outdated design that allows flames to spread quickly.
So Derby Fire Department Assistant Chief Robert J. Laskowski Jr. called for additional firefighters from Ansonia and Shelton, along with an extra EMS crew from Ansonia Rescue Medical Services.
Photo by Eugene Driscoll
The scene on Anson Street in Derby Tuesday morning.
“We focused on getting an elderly man in a wheelchair out of the house, and then we went to work,” Laskowski said.
The man was checked out by EMS and did not appear injured.
The assistant chief said there was fire in a third-floor utility closet. The Derby Fire Marshal’s Office was on scene investigating. The fire marshal will determine a cause and origin.
Firefighters cut holes in the roof to vent the fire and to prevent it from spreading.
“Then they attacked where it was. They used one hose line. I believe the fire was electrical, but the fire marshal will have to give you more information,” Laskowski said.
The fire was under control within 10 to 15 minutes. By that point roughly 50 firefighters were on scene.
As of 7 a.m. families were still waiting to hear whether they would be allowed back inside.
