The City of Norwalk Fire Department responded to a structure fire at 28 Spring Hill Ave on Wednesday, March 30th, 2023 at 08:50hrs.
Engine Co. 1 and Truck co. 1 arrived first due to find smoke from the basement and upper floors of 2 1/2 story balloon frame a multi family occupancy.
NFD units located a fire in the basement that was extending up to all 3 floors. Fires in balloon frame structures present numerous hazards and challenges to firefighters because these types of structures contain a large number of concealed void spaces and lack “fire stops” that enables fires to rapidly travel vertically within these void spaces and intensify. Fires in these structures are very manpower and labor intensive.
A 2nd alarm was transmitted which brought a total of 29 Norwalk Professional Firefighters to the scene with 4 Engine companies, 2 Truck companies, a heavy rescue company and shift commander.
NFD Local 830 members quickly stretched multiple hoselines into the structure and opened up both interior and exterior walls to extinguish the main body of fire in the basement and fire extension in the void spaces that was traveling to the upper floors. Searches of all floors were conducted and found negative. Due to the quick response and coordinate suppression efforts of Norwalk firefighters, the fire was quickly extinguished and damage was limited primarily to one side of the structure.
A total of 10 people were displaced. There were no injuries to firefighters or civilians. The Norwalk Fire Marshal Division is investigating the cause of the fire.
Units:
Engine Co. 1, Engine Co. 2, Engine Co. 4 (RIT), Engine Co. 5 (2nd alarm), Truck Co. 1, Truck Co. 2, Rescue Co. 2, Car 2 (shift commander), Car 3, Car 4, Car 7 (safety), Car 6 (mechanics division), Fire Marshals Office, Norwalk Hospital EMS, Norwalk PD
Mutual Aid:
New Canaan FD: Engine 7 (stand-by coverage at NFD Station 1)
Westport FD: Engine 2 (Stand-by coverage at NFD Station 4)
Rowayton FD: Engine 2 (Stand-by coverage at NFD Station 5)
