Fairfield, CT -- On Sunday, May 28, at 8:48 AM, the Fairfield Fire Department received a report of an automatic fire alarm coming from the Central Utilities Facility [CUF] building on the Fairfield University Campus. The building is not normally occupied by staff or students.
On-duty Fairfield University maintenance personnel arrived at the building and found a rubbish fire inside the structure against a chimney and attempted to fight the fire. When fire units arrived scene, they found smoke coming from the roof in addition to a fire inside the structure.
Fire Attack lines were advance by fire personnel into the building and the Ladder truck was set up for roof access and to support operations. Due to the construction of the roof, extensive work was required by firefighters to remove burning built-up roofing materials surrounding the 3-foot diameter steel chimney. The fire department Chief, Safety Officer and Fire Marshall were called to the scene during the fire. Interior crews were able to extinguish the fire and shut off the operating equipment without incident.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Fairfield Fire Marshall's office. Recordings from video cameras installed in the area of the fire are being reviewed as a part of the investigation. The cause of the fire does not appear to be arson.
Assistant Chief Roger Caisse, the incident commander stated, "Early notification of this alarm to the Fairfield Fire Department prevented more serious damage from occurring to the building."
A total of 10 Fairfield fire units responded to this incident and mutual aide coverage was provided by Bridgeport and Westport FDs. The last fire unit cleared the scene at 11:18 AM.