Fairfield Firefighters Respond to Multiple Structure Fires Due to Lightning Thurs. June 28

FAIRFIELD, CT - On Thursday evening June 28 at 6:38pm, the Fairfield Emergency Communications Center received a call reporting a structure fire at 1300 Mill Hill Road. Engines 1, 3, 4, 5, Ladder 2, Rescue 1, and Car 3 responded. Engine 4 arrived on scene and reported smoke showing from a large detached garage. Units used multiple hand lines to aggressively battle this fire. The Incident Commander, Assistant Chief Schuyler Sherwood, stated that the homeowners were very lucky the fire was discovered in the early stages by a delivery person or the damage could have been much worse. One firefighter suffered serious facial injuries and was transported to the hospital by American Medical Response. His injuries were not life threatening. The last fire unit cleared the scene at 9:25PM

Shortly after the alarm was received for Mill Hill Road, the Fairfield Emergency Communications Center received a call for smoke in a structure at 744 Gilbert Highway. Fairfield Engine 2, Car 5, and a mutual aid assignment from the Westport Fire Department responded. Westport units arrived on scene and reported the invisible dog fence transformer in the residence had shorted out, possibly as a result of the lightning strike, causing a smoke condition in the residence. There were no reported injuries. The last unit cleared the scene at 7:34PM.

The cause of both fires is being investigated by the Fairfield Fire Marshal.