Welding Repairs Spark Fire At Rocky Glen MillÂ
Welding Repairs Spark Fire At Rocky Glen MillÂ
By Andrew Gorosko
Welding repairs being made to a leaking large-diameter pipe that provides water to a small hydroelectric plant inside Rocky Glen Mill in Sandy Hook caused a small fire at the 19th Century brick office building at 75 Glen Road on December 1.
Rick Fattibene, Jr, the proprietor of Sandy Hook Hydro, LLC, which is based in the building, said that welding repairs being made to the five-foot-diameter penstock inadvertently caused some adjacent wood and insulation in the building to catch fire. The penstock conveys water from a reservoir to an electric generator at the hydroelectric plant.
The fire occurred on the eastern end of the building at about 11:10 am, near the ceiling of the hydro plant, which lies below a restaurant, which is under renovation.
Considering the age of the building and the potential for a serious fire there, Sandy Hook Fire Chief Bill Halstead said he had firefighters from Sandy Hook, Hook & Ladder, Botsford, and Southbury respond to the scene. Hawleyville and Dodgingtown firefighters were put on standby duty.
Firefighters extended the ladders from two aerial fire trucks to the roof of the building. Firefighters checked the premises to learn whether the fire had extended within the structure.
People who work in the office building evacuated into the parking lots nearby.
There were no injuries. The blaze is estimated to have caused several thousand dollars worth of damage.
Mr Fattibene said that he used a fire extinguisher to attack the blaze after it was discovered. Firefighters were called to the scene to ensure that the fire would not spread, he said.
âJust thank God it didnât light the building on fire,â Mr Fattibene said.
The building has fire sprinklers, Chief Halstead noted, adding, though, that there are no sprinklers within the wall where the fire occurred.
The building, which is located along a scenic section of the Pootatuck River, has contained various businesses over the years. Many residents may know the building best for its past use as a factory for The Fabric Fire Hose Company.