Shelton Volunteer Fire

Multi Alarm Mixed Occupancy Fire Howe Ave 1/6/2014

What started out as a water flow alarm investigation would lead to a massive fire that would consume a large part of a city block, require 30 rescues and 5 people going to the hospital, a water main break, and a huge structural collapse. With the occupants not leaving the building with the alarms sounding and the fire quickly spreading fire fighters had to put all efforts to saving lives. Thirty people had to be pulled from the burning building many being taken out windows with ground ladders. Luckily only 5 required hospitalization. The next issue that arose was the water main at Howe and and the Derby Shelton Bridge broke buckling the street with the uncontrolled water flow and cutting a vital water supply. Crews stretched a supply line over the bridge from Derby to bring in water, other crews hit supplies from other mains on surrounding streets, and a tanker shuttle water supply had to be established with the regional tanker task force. Early on with heavy fire raging on all floors the right front half of the 4 story structure collapsed to the street dropping debris on Shelton Engine 4 a par was taken and all were accounted for. Later as the fire spread through to the rear of the structure the rest of the residential structure leaving a huge pile of burning rubble. The fire would bring mutual aid and 100's of fire fighters from Ansonia,Derby,Seymour,Stratford,Nichols,Huntington, Oxford,Stevenson, and Monroe. It would also activate the regional EMS MCI Plan bring EMS from throughout the Valley and shuffling units to cover the region.

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