One resident was displaced and five Newtown Police Department police officers received medical care after a health and welfare check turned into a fire call early Tuesday afternoon.

Newtown Police Department officers were at a Parmalee Hill Road home January 21, checking on its resident after receiving a request to check on the well-being of a person residing there.

According to Newtown PD Lieutenant Scott Smith, the officers found the home to be in disrepair upon arrival. The resident did not want the police to enter the home, and spoke from the kitchen through a closed door, according to a statement shared by Smith.

The home is north of Parmalee Hill Road’s intersection with Daniels Hill Road, with a steep driveway measuring approximately 50 yards. It was constructed in 1954 and has 1,169 square feet of living space, according to the assessors online database.

The occupant was speaking with the officers through a closed door when, just before 2 pm, one of the officers noticed “a fire and a large amount of smoke coming from the stove in front of the occupant,” according to the PD statement. Officers then forced entry, and were met by a large amount of materials in the home “consistent with a hoarding situation,” also according to the PD statement.

At that point the police officers on scene had Newtown Emergency Communications Center dispatch fire for a possible structure fire. All five of Newtown’s volunteer companies were dispatched. Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps (NVAC) and a paramedic were also dispatched for the homeowner due to smoke inhalation.

Newtown Hook & Ladder Chief Engineer Mike Aurelia was incident command. Aurelia said that as firefighters were responding to the scene, they were updated that they were looking at “some type of fire on the stove.”

The police officers used an extinguisher to partially put out the fire, they were told.

Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Chief Anthony Capozziello was the first firefighter to arrive on the scene, according to Aurelia. Capozziello updated the other responding firefighters that the fire had been extinguished, but “there was still a heavy smoke condition inside a single family residence that had heavy hoarding conditions throughout,” Aurelia said.

Hoarding can make an already difficult job even more demanding.

When firefighters encounter such settings, Aurelia explained, “it multiplies our challenge because it doesn’t leave any easy means for egress for us. It makes access into the building and throughout the building more challenging, creating a delay in the service we can provide by extinguishing or mitigating any hazards. It slows down and hinders our operations.”

All of that was already going through the minds of those approaching the Parmalee Hill Road home on Tuesday.

When they arrived, they also found the property’s steep driveway had not been plowed following the overnight snowstorm of January 19-20.

“The driveway had about two inches of hardpack ice and snow,” Aurelia noted.

One Hook & Ladder engine went partially up the driveway. All other apparatus remained on Parmalee Hill Road.

It took the police officers “several minutes,” according to the PD statement, “to get to the occupant and then get them out of the house.” NVAC transported the resident to the hospital.

Firefighters who entered the dwelling found the resident had been using the cooking stovetop for heat. It appeared a cutting board or dish towel caught fire, Aurelia said.

Firefighters also reported “the floor was extremely soft and the house did not seem structurally sound,” Aurelia said. A fire marshal was already on the scene. Aurelia then asked for a Building Department official to be added to the assignment, and for Social Services to also be contacted.

When the building official arrived, it was learned the house had already been condemned, Aurelia said. JP Maguire, the catastrophe cleaning and property restoration company, was contacted for a boardup of the building. Eversource was also sent to the scene to disconnect all power.

Bethel Fire offered station coverage in Dodgingtown, Southbury sent a crew to Sandy Hook’s main station, and Stepney sent a crew for coverage in Botsford.

Firefighters cleared from the property around 3:45.

Deputy Fire Marshal Dave Ober said on Wednesday the fire was under investigation. His office had “nothing further at this time,” he said.

Police Officer Injuries

One police officer received minor injuries on Tuesday when they were clipped by the fire engine in the driveway after the vehicle slid on the ice. Aurelia said the vehicle was parked, with chocks on the wheels and its brake set, when it moved.

“No one was in or around it, everyone was away from it,” he said. “It slid approximately two feet off the edge of the driveway, just as a police officer was walking by on the narrow driveway.

“As he was walking it slid on the ice and knocked him down,” he reiterated. “All safety measures were taken. It was just the conditions of the driveway.”

The unidentified officer was transported to the hospital for treatment. Newtown PD confirmed January 22 the officer had been treated and released.

NVAC was subsequently sent to Newtown PD headquarters Tuesday afternoon, when four officers were checked for smoke inhalation.

There was no update on the condition of the resident.

No firefighter injuries were reported.

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Managing Editor Shannon Hicks can be reached at shannon@thebee.com.