'Major Fire' Averted by Passerby's 911 Call: Stamford Fire

A major fire in the city’s South End was prevented, officials say, because of the 911 call made by a pedestrian who saw a small fire in the window of an abandoned building on Manhattan Street late Monday night.

Three engines, a truck company, a rescue company, an Incident Commander and a Rapid Intervention Team were dispatched to the area of Manhattan Street and Pacific Street for a fire in a building, according to a Stamford Fire Department statement.

“According to a 911 caller, who was a pedestrian on Dock Street, there was a small fire in the second floor window of an abandoned building on Manhattan Street” officials said.

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The first arriving engine company confirmed a smoke condition coming from the three-story abandoned building at 97 Manhattan St. and immediately stretched hose lines to attack the fire. All companies assigned to the box alarm worked quickly to gain access to the partially secured and boarded up building. A small fire in the rear of the second floor was quickly extinguished. The entire incident was brought under control in under 15 minutes.

“We are grateful to the 911 caller who took the time to call this in and direct fire units to the correct building. Given some more time, this fire could have grown into a major fire.” said Deputy Chief Eric Lorenz.

A primary search of the building revealed no one was in the building at the time of the search.

There were no civilian or firefighter injuries.

Photo Courtesy of Bill Tenka of Puckstopper Photography.