Fire Damages West Avenue Industrial Building

Stratford firefighters knocked down an early-morning fire on 55 West Avenue today.

The fire, reported at 5 a.m. by a passer-by, was in a 9,800-square-foot building owned by Joemmi LLC. The multi-occupancy industrial building houses several woodworking shops, a custom motorcycle shop, and a skateboard shop, according to the fire department.

An hour later the fire was extinguished and the Stratford Fire Marshal’s Office determined the blaze was accidental.

The first arriving fire crews were met with heavy smoke and fire in one of the woodworking shops and had to force multiple exterior doors to gain access to fight the fire.

The building sustained heat, smoke and structural damage to the roof area in the woodworking shop, and moderate smoke damage in the other parts of the building.

All five Stratford engine companies, a ladder, company, the assistant chief and safety officer for a total of 26 firefighters were operating at the scene.

Stratford EMS provided rehab and emergency standby services to fire personnel. One minor injury was sustained by a Stratford firefighter. 

An engine company from both Milford and Bridgeport Fire Departments provided standby fire protection.