For the 3rd time in a week, Norwalk Professional Firefighters were again dispatched by Norwalk Combined 911Center at 12:44am for a reported building on fire at 1 North Ave in Engine Co. 4’s first due response area.

While Engine 4, Engine 1, Engine 2 (RIT), Truck 1, Truck 2, Rescue 2, and Car 2 (shift Commander) were responding, dispatch relayed that an occupant who had exited their apartment, re-entered and would not come out. Norwalk PD was able to remove the occupant as NFD companies were arriving on scene.

Engine 4 arrived on scene with a 2 story multi-unit wood frame apartment building with smoke and fire coming from the 1st floor and 2nd floor. Due to the balloon frame construction of the building with numerous void spaces and advanced fire conditions, a 2nd and 3rd alarm were quickly struck to add Engine 3 and Engine 5, bringing all 33 on duty NFD Local 830 members to the scene. A Special Call was made for an Engine Co. from the City of Stamford for RIT. Three handlines were placed into operation by NFD Engine Companies, vertical ventilation, and searches of the 10 units were performed by NFD Truck and Rescue Companies.

After a coordinated, labor, and manpower intensive operation, the fire was extinguished in 90 minutes. Currently, there are 7 occupants displaced that are receiving assistance from the Red Cross. There were no reported injuries to firefighters or civilians. The Norwalk Fire Marshals Division is investigating the cause of the fire.

While all NFD companies were committed on scene, mutual aid station coverage was provided by the City of Stamford FD Local 786, Town of New Canaan FD Local 3224, Town of Westport FD Local 1081 Town of Fairfield FD Local 1426 and Rowayton VFD.