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FAIRFIELD, CT - On January 26, 2009, little before 4:00 p.m. afternoon a Fairfield Emergency Communication Center Dispatcher received a telephone call from the resident at 340 Westport Turnpike reporting a garage fire. Before the afternoon had turned to evening Fairfield Fire Department Engines 1, 2, 4 and 5, Ladders 1 and 2, Command Car 3 and Chief Richard Felner in Car 1 would be joined by Westport Engine 2 and Stratfield’s Rescue 15 in fighting the structure fire, with Bridgeport Fire Department sending mutual aid units to Fairfield Fire Station 2 while police officers from Fairfield, Westport and Easton Police Departments all worked at the scene to assist with traffic.
“I had recieved information from the ECC enroute that this was a working structure fire, and instructed the ECC to place an additional engine on the assignment and make the necessary notifications for a working fire,” said Incident Commander Assistant Chief Doug Chavenello. According to A/C Chavenello, Engine 5 arrived and reported heavy fire coming from the garage first and second floor left side of the house, adding “I arrived shortly afterwards and confirmed Lieutenant Jepsen’s report.”
Chavenello’s report details how Engine 5 stretched a hoseline to the front door and began attacking the fire, with the next arriving Engine 4 instructed to lay a water supply line from the nearest hydrant to Engine 5, which was positioned in the driveway. Chavenello then ordered incoming Engine 1 to report directly to him at the fire building, instructing the ladder companies to ladder the structure and ventilate the roof. “Engine 1 reported to me and I instructed Lieutenant Sherman to stretch a second line inside to hold the fire in the garage while the Engine 5 crew attacked the fire in the house,” added Chavenello in his report.
Engine 4 personnel arrived after laying the supply line and were instructed by the Incident Commander to stretch a larger diameter hoseline to the garage but not attack the fire unless ordered; fire fighters from Engine 5 and Engine 1 were able to extinguish most of the fire in the residence with their hoselines, after which Engine 4 personnel extinguished the remaining fire on the outside of the building. Ladders 1 and 2 completed ventilation after which Ladder 2 was directed to do a secondary search of the structure, while Ladder 2 was instructed to work with Engine 1 personnel opening up the walls looking for possible extension of the fire.
After Ladder 2 had completed the secondary search and reported all clear to the Incident Commander, they were then instructed to assist Engines 4 and 5 with overhaul of the second floor. Stratfield Volunteer Fire Department’s Rescue 15 arrive at this point and assisted by filling depleted air bottles. “After the operating fire companies had reported that the fire was extinguished and much of the opening up looking for extension was completed”, Chavenello placed a recall of alarm indicating that onscene resources could handle the substantial amount of overhaul which remained to be completed.
At this time Fire Marshal Bill Kessler arrived onscene and started the investigation of the fire. Companies completed the overhaul of the structure and were placed in service once they were able to gather their equipment and return to service. The scene was turned over to the Fire Marshal, who stated that “the fire cause and origin are currently under active investigation.” Engine 5 was last unit clear at 10:15 p.m.
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