Date: Fri 09-Apr-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

fire-Pole-Bridge

Full Text:

Fire Damages Sandy Hook Apartments

(with photo)

BY ANDREW GOROSKO

An accidental fire caused extensive damage Tuesday night to an old house

occupied by four people in two apartments at 1 Pole Bridge Road in Sandy Hook,

fire officials said.

Fire Marshal George Lockwood said the fire started after a burning candle fell

over onto a couch in the living room of the apartment occupied by Nina Wilson

and her son Jack, 5. The couch rapidly ignited, and flames spread to

combustible objects in the room causing extensive char damage.

There were no injuries in the fire which was reported about 8:50 pm, Mr

Lockwood said. A damage estimate was not available.

The fire heavily damaged two rooms in the lower level of the Wilson apartment

and caused heat and smoke damage upstairs.

The fire also caused some smoke and water damage to an adjacent apartment

occupied by Willas and Hjerth Natalie, Mr Lockwood said. The two two-story

apartments are situated side-by-side in the house.

"When we got there, there was heavy fire in the front [Wilson] apartment,"

said Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company Chief Bill Halstead. "You

had a lot of combustibles in there," he said.

All residents were outside when firefighters arrived, he said.

Firefighters were able to contain the flames to the living room, Chief

Halstead said. "The room of origin was gutted," he said.

"It was a fast knockdown ... [Firefighters] pushed the fire right out the

windows and doors," he said. It took about six minutes to knock down the

flames, Chief Halstead said.

The Natalie apartment should be rehabitable soon, he said. But renovation work

will be required to make the Wilson apartment livable again, he added.

The building is owned by Charles Wisniewski of Bethel, Mr Lockwood said.

Sandy Hook, Newtown Hook and Ladder, and Botsford firefighters went to the

scene. Southbury volunteer firemen stood by at the Sandy Hook firehouse.

About 55 firefighters responded to the scene, almost 40 of whom were Sandy

Hook firefighters, Chief Halstead said.

Firefighters used Newtown Hook and Ladder's thermal imaging camera after the

fire was extinguished to check for any areas in the house where fire might be

lingering, Chief Halstead said.

"I think everybody did an excellent job ... It's a credit to all their

training," he said.

Firefighters were at the scene for about 2« hours.