New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
Officials: Firefighter injured battling Hamden blaze
HAMDEN — A firefighter suffered second-degree burns while fighting a house fire on Wintergreen Avenue on Friday morning, during which one person and three dogs were evacuated from the home, according to fire officials.
The Hamden Fire Department was dispatched at about 8:30 a.m., with Engine 2 arriving shortly after to find smoke showing from the eaves of the house, Fire Chief Jerry Naples said in the release.
“The first arriving companies were able to safely evacuate one resident along with three small dogs. An aggressive interior coordinated attack was initiated while crews encountered high heat, heavy smoke and fire conditions
on the second floor,” Na- ples said in the statement. “The
assignment was upgraded to a second alarm due to the conditions present along with the environmental factors.”
Firefighters were able to contain the fire to the two bedrooms on the second floor. The occupant was treated on scene for smoke inhalation by American Medical Response and one firefighter suffered second-degree burns, according to the release.
Fire departments including Cheshire, New Haven and North Haven provided station coverage and responded to other emergency calls while Hamden companies battled the twoalarm blaze, the release said.
A photo posted by the department showed flames and dark smoke shooting out of a secondstory window at the rear of a single-family home.
Later in the morning, crews apparently had extinguished the fire and were seen throwing charred debris out of a secondstory window.
During the fire investigation, it was discovered there were multiple extension cords and power strips in the bedroom, with some running under carpets and padding, officials said, reminding residents that extension cords should only be used on a temporary basis. Multiple cords should not be plugged into each other, and should not run under carpets or doorways, the release said.
The Hamden Community Emergency Response Team and American Red Cross provided assistance to the homeowner and firefighters on scene, the release said.
Property records show the colonial-style home was built in 1890. It was last sold in 2020. The residential area sits up against the West Rock Ridge State Park, a popular hiking spot.