3 Firefighters Injured While Battling 2-Alarm Fire In Wallingford: Officials

WALLINGFORD, CT — Three firefighters were injured, including two who were taken to the hospital, while battling a two-alarm fire at a condominium complex in Wallingford on Wednesday evening, according to fire officials.

Crews responded around 6:45 p.m. to a reported structure fire on Stephen Barberino Way. The shift commander reported a working fire and immediately upgraded to a second-alarm assignment, according to a news release from the Wallingford Fire Department.

“Heavy fire was reported on the porch and roof area involving three units,” officials wrote in the news release. “This was initially fought defensively using exterior master streams from three ladder trucks.”

The Wallingford Fire Department had a full response, including the East Wallingford and North Farms volunteer companies, according to officials. The Meriden Fire Department also responded with multiple companies for mutual aid.

“There were no reported civilian injuries and everyone was reported to be out of the involved units,” officials wrote. “Three firefighters were injured, two being transported to the hospital for evaluation. All the firefighter injuries were reported to be minor.”

The Wallingford Emergency Management and the Red Cross assisted residents who were displaced, officials said.

Firefighters responded to a second structure fire nearly 50 minutes later with a report of people possibly trapped on a fourth-floor balcony while crews were still at the scene of the first incident, according to officials.

The fire was reported at the Parker Place Apartments on Parker Place, and officials said Wallingford received assistance from the Hamden, North Haven, Middletown, Cheshire, and North Branford fire departments.

Officials said a stove fire on the fourth floor was mostly contained by the building’s sprinkler system. There was “extensive smoke and water damage” to the building, according to officials.

No resident or firefighter injuries were reported.

The cause of the fire is being investigated by the Wallingford Fire Marshal’s Office.