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Conn. firefighter burned while battling house fire

The firefighter suffered burns to his back, hand and arms; he was taken to a hospital and then transferred to a burn unit

By Leslie Lake
The Hour

NORWALK, Conn. — A firefighter was injured while battling an attic blaze Thursday afternoon.

The fire at 15 Elmwood Ave., a three-story, two-family home, was reported around 1:20 p.m. The flames appeared to be under control within 20 minutes.

“There was heavy smoke pushing from the third floor, and (24) firefighters knocked down the body of the fire quickly,” Deputy Fire Chief Ed Prescott said.

The first-floor residents first reported the fire, followed by a neighbor who saw smoke, Prescott said.

Two elderly first-floor residents in the home were able to evacuate safely.

Just before 2 p.m., a firefighter with a chainsaw cut a hole in the roof.

They broke windows for ventilation, and the blaze with hoses from the ground and with a ladder truck.

Fire officials said one of the men pulling those hoses suffered burns to his back, hand and arm. He was transported to Norwalk Hospital, then transferred to the burn unit at Bridgeport Hospital.

Fire marshals were also on scene to investigate the cause of the fire.

“It appears that it may have started in a second-floor bathroom, but investigators will determine the cause,” Prescott said.

The fire left three families homeless including six adults, who are being helped by the American Red Cross.

“Those affected will meet with (caseworkers) in the coming days to work on a longer-term recovery plan,” spokesman Stefanie Arcangelo said in a statement crediting “the generosity of our donors and the commitment of our volunteers.”

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