Fairfield Fire Responds to Knapps Hwy Structure Blaze

FAIRFIELD, CT, JULY 10, 2014: On Wednesday morning at 10:50 AM the Fairfield Emergency Communications Center received a call reporting a fire in the basement at 464-466 Knapps Highway. The Fairfield Fire Department was immediately dispatched. The occupants were at home at the time of the fire and dialed 911.

Upon arrival, the first fire units reported heavy smoke in the basement area of the house. The fire department initiated an interior attack. Assistant Chief Schuyler Sherwood arrived on scene and assumed command. The homeowner reported that everyone was out of the house, and that there were animals inside the basement. All on-duty Fairfield Fire Department resources were requested to the scene of the fire. Fire Chief Richard Felner was also on scene.

Fire personnel rescued all the animals from the structure. The department conducted an extensive ventilation operation at this location. The fire was placed under control at approximately 11:20 AM. There were no reported injuries at the scene. The home suffered smoke damage to the basement area. Assistant Chief Schuyler Sherwood stated that "this family is extremely fortunate that there were no injuries as a result of the fire since there were no working smoke detectors in the area of the fire."

Assistant Chief Sherwood reminds everyone that smoke detectors save lives and that everyone home should have working smoke detectors on every floor and in the sleeping areas. The Fire Marshal's Office is conducting an investigation of this fire.