Officials: Firefighters recovering after being injured in blaze

NEW HAVEN — Two city firefighters have been released from the hospital and are recovering after they were injured while battling a fire in a vacant building earlier this week, city officials said.

“Both have been treated and released,” Assistant New Haven Fire Chief Dan Coughlin said in an email, adding that the two firefighters are “doing well.”

Coughlin said firefighters were called to a house fire on Orchard Street just after 9:30 a.m. Monday, arriving to find fire on all three floors of the building, as well as in the basement. During the incident, the two firefighters were injured, including one who sustained serious burns to the neck and shoulder. That firefighter was taken to the burn unit in Bridgeport, Coughlin said.

The cause of the fire remained under investigation as of Wednesday.

“It's a reminder that the individuals working for the fire department every day go out and risk their lives on behalf of the community to keep our community safe,” said New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker.

Reached by phone Wednesday morning, Elicker noted the department had experienced loss over the last few years.

In 2019, Firefighter Ricardo Torres died in the line of duty while battling a fire on Valley Street. Elicker noted other members of the department have died since.

“I think it's always important for all of us to use every opportunity to express how grateful we are to firefighters for the work they do to keep us safe,” the mayor added.

It was unclear exactly how the two firefighters were injured during the Monday incident. Elicker said the call was unusual in that it involved a vacant building without any furniture inside. Crews were told at the scene that work was being done inside the home, he said.

One of the firefighters sustained what he described as an “impact” injury to his face and jaw. The other sustained burn injuries. He said both firefighters' wounds were non-life-threatening, and that both were released from the hospital the same day.