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Conn. firefighter makes ‘rapid egress’ during house fire mayday, bailout

Wallingford firefighters faced heavy fire on the second floor of a home, pulled a dog to safety, and cleared a mayday after a firefighter rapidly exited via ladder

By Jessica Bravo
New Haven Register

WALLINGFORD, Conn. — A dog was rescued from a blaze at a Grieb Road residence Wednesday evening in Wallingford, and one firefighter was sent to the hospital, Wallingford fire officials said.

“While advancing the first attack line one firefighter called a mayday,” the local fire department said. “The firefighter made rapid egress from the structure down a ladder that had been placed for firefighter egress and the mayday was cleared.”

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The firefighter was then taken to a Meriden hospital for observation, but as of Thursday morning had been released, the department said.

Crews rescued a dog that was trapped inside the home and gave the animal oxygen through a mask, the department added. The dog then was reunited with the family, officials said.

The department said crews were dispatched to the fire around 7:20 p.m., and were met with heavy fire on the house’s second-floor area. The department said the flames “took multiple lines to fully extinguish.”

In a post on Facebook, the Wallingford Police Department said Grieb Road was temporarily closed from East Main Street to Penny Lane while the fire department worked on a structure fire. In a later post, police said the road had reopened.

The fire remains under investigation and residents of the home were being assisted by city officials, the fire department said.

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