Four fires strike town in less than 24 hours

ANSONIA >> Acting Fire Marshal Darrick Lundeen said Saturday there’s no indication that three significant fires reported in a less-than-24-hour span are connected, including one that displaced several residents and destroyed a residence.

A fourth, minor fire, involving a stove, was also reported Saturday afternoon, City Economic Development Director Sheila O’Malley said.

The first and most serious fire was reported Friday night and affected two homes, leaving one a total loss and the other with significant damage. That fire displaced several people, though Lundeen said he didn’t have exact numbers. Lundeen said the state fire marshal was assisting in the investigation.

The Valley Independent reported 11 people were displaced by the fire, which they reported occurred on the corner of Fourth and Liberty streets. The fire required mutual aid assistance.

Lundeen said it does not appear that this fire was started intentionally. A Seymour Volunteer Fire Department engine that assisted in response to this fire said in a Facebook post that they responded Friday at about 10:30 p.m.

Mayor David S. Cassetti said in a statement Saturday that this weekend’s fires have “tested the skills and safety of our fire, police and ARMS.” He extended his gratitude to Derby and Seymour for their mutual aid.

“Fortunately, they have come through with quick response times and have been able to contain and extinguish all of the fires,” Cassetti said in the statement.

The second fire was reported Saturday morning at a residence on Crowley Street, while the third one, at 25 Main Street, involved roof damage to a vacant manufacturing building. Lundeen said at about 2:15 p.m. on Saturday that fire crews had contained the fire.

O’Malley said the fourth fire, the smallest one, was reported at Westfield Avenue on Saturday afternoon.

O’Malley said the fire on Main Street likely started after the building’s deteriorating roof flew off and struck an electrical pole, sparking a fire. O’Malley said the fire on Crowley Street involved damage to a back porch.

“We have a lot of aged, aging infrastructure,” O’Malley said, “especially the manufacturing buildings; they’re quite old.”

Cassetti said something must be done to address the city’s vacant manufacturing buildings in his statement.

“We implore the owners and will also be seeking federal and state funding to demolish these old structures,” Cassetti said. “Most of them present a health and safety risk. We will need a partnership to address the 62 acres of dilapidated buildings. They must be addressed because the safety and well-being of our residents depends on it.”