By Amada Cuda
Connecticut Post Online (Bridgeport, Connecticut)
ANSONIA, Conn. — Several people are homeless today — and one firefighter injured — after an afternoon fire heavily damaged a house on Howard Avenue, officials said.
While none of the occupants were injured, an unidentified Ansonia firefighter was burned on the neck, according to Fire Chief Michael Eheman. The chief said the firefighter was battling the blaze in the attic when he lost the air supply from his oxygen tank. He was burned while leaving the burning building, the chief said. He was taken to Griffin Hospital in Derby with non-life threatening injuries, Eheman said.
Firefighers were also able to save a cat and dog that belonged to residents of the ravaged building.
The fire that erupted after 3 p.m., was battled by firefighters from Ansonia’s volunteer fire companies for about two hours, according to Eheman. He said the house was fully involved — with flames shooting through the roof — when firefighters arrived. It was feared that people were trapped in the 141 Howard Ave. house, but officials said all occupants escaped safely.
The fire was so severe that the second floor collapsed, Eheman said.
Firefighters later used chain saws to make holes to vent the blaze from the attic.
Ansonia Mayor Jim DellaVolpe, who was also at the scene, said about seven people lived in the house. DellaVolpe said officials were trying to contact the house’s occupants and make shelter arrangements for the night. He said if the people could not stay with friends or relatives, they would be put in hotels.
Eheman said the cause of the blaze has not yet been determined, and the investigation was continuing.
The fire chief said firefighters also responded to two less serious blazes Saturday on Hodge and on North streets.
Along with battling the blaze, subfreezing temperatures also caused problems with slippery conditions after water from fighting the fire froze on contact. Sand and salt was spread to prevent firefighters from falling. Icicles also formed on firefighters helmets and jackets.
“This is not the kind of weather you want to be fighting a fire in,” DellaVolpe said.
Silvia Bolde, who has lived in the Howard Avenue neighborhood for seven years, said she heard reports that people were trapped inside the building. Before fire officials determined no one was inside, Bolde said, “We’re praying no one is inside there.”
The three-story blue house, built in 1900, is located in a densely settled residential neighborhood on Ansonia’s west side, a couple blocks from the Naugatuck River. The attic of the house had been converted into living space.
According to Ansonia tax records, the house is owned by Deborah McSweeney. The appraised value of the house is $211,500.
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