‘Quick-Thinking’ Firefighters Evacuate Residents From Stratford Home

STRATFORD, CT — A group of firefighters returning from nighttime marine training evacuated residents from a home after seeing smoke emitting from the front door Thursday night in Stratford, according to officials.

Officials said the firefighters notified the Stratford Communication Center around 9 p.m. of the smoke coming from a home in the 1600 block of Main Street.

“While the responding firefighters were enroute to the location, Stratford Firefighters entered the residence and evacuated the occupants still in the residence with the fire alarm sounding,” officials wrote in a news release. “This report summoned a residential structure fire assignment consisting of all on duty fire apparatus under the direction of Assistant Chief Michael Camperlengo for a total of 22 firefighters in addition to the four firefighters who entered the residential boarding home. Upon arrival of the first due apparatus, crews extinguished the fire in the original location and prevented extension to the remaining apartments. As a result of the actions of the quick-thinking firefighters who saw the smoke and immediately entered to alert the occupants no injuries were reported.”

An occupant of the apartment and three firefighters were evaluated and released by Stratford EMS units at the scene, according to officials.

“Station coverage was provided by the Bridgeport and Milford Fire Departments while all on duty units extinguished the fire,” officials wrote. “The Fairfield County Regional Hazmat Team also responded to the scene for assistance with lithium ion batteries affected by the fire in coordination with the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Hazmat Response.”

The cause of the fire is being investigated by the Stratford Fire Marshals office.

“The Stratford Fire Department would like to remind our residents to have working smoke detectors, store lithium ion batteries in accordance with manufacturer recommendations, regularly practice an escape plan and call 911 immediately upon observation of smoke or fire,” officials wrote.