Firefighters Quell Factory Fire In Sandy Hook

By Andrew Gorosko

A malfunction during an industrial process caused a furnace explosion at a Sandy Hook factory on Monday afternoon, resulting in multiple fire companies responding to 27 Philo Curtis Road to extinguish the blaze.

Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company Chief Bill Halstead, who also is the town fire marshal, termed the incident “a minor furnace explosion.”

“It wasn’t a big deal,” he said, adding that the incident caused an estimated $3,000 in damage at Connecticut Engineering Associates Corporation (CEAC). There were no injuries, he said.

The industrial site is just north of the Philo Curtis Road bridge that crosses above Interstate 84.

As firefighters arrived on the scene, acrid smoke was wafting out of the factory.

Firefighters used handheld extinguishers to put out the accidental fire, which damaged some floorboards, as well as a hydraulic line, and an industrial gas supply line, Chief Halstead said.

Firefighters used the extinguishers to put out the blaze to reduce the risk of additional problems that might occur if had they used conventional high-volume fire hoses within that industrial environment, he said.

Firefighters working inside the factory used portable air supplies to protect themselves, the fire chief said.

“It looked a lot worse than it was,” Chief Halstead said of the industrial fire.

 Firefighters spent about 90 minutes at the scene to ensure that problems were resolved, he said.

 At the factory’s request, firefighters returned to the scene about 4 pm to recheck for any possible problems, but found none, the fire chief said.

Sandy Hook, Newtown Hook & Ladder, and Hawleyville firefighters were dispatched to the scene. Botsford and Dodgingtown firefighters stood by at their fire stations. About 28 firefighters responded to the scene.

CEAC manufactures a range of brazing powders that are used in the automotive, electrical, and heating-ventilation-air conditioning (HVAC) industries.