Fire Rips Through Stratford Home

Published Sunday

A fire ripped though an Emerald Place home Sunday night (see video), causing significant damage to the ranch-style structure.

Stratford firefighters responded to the blaze at 25 Emerald Place about 6 p.m. Sunday, according to a post on the fire union's Facebook page.

Bridgeport's bravest also provided assistance on scene, the post said. The home is on the corner of Emerald Place and Broadbridge Avenue.

There were no reported injuries and the cause of the fire remains under investigation, according to the fire union's page.

The Stratford Fire Department released the following statement Monday:

At 5:52 p.m., the Stratford 911 center received a call from the Bridgeport 911 center that Bridgeport Fire was responding to a reported structure fire in the vicinity of Broadbridge Avenue in the city.

Due to multiple calls and conflicting information on the address, Bridgeport 911 notified Stratford 911 that they were responding to a structure fire reported in the vicinity of Broadbridge Avenue.

Stratford Fire Department Car 3 operated by shift commander Assistant Chief Timothy Brennan was the first to arrive on the scene at 5:56 p.m. at 25 Emerald Place, and reported heavy fire issuing from the roof of the structure.

Chief Brennan confirmed with residents that all occupants were reported safely evacuated from the structure with the exception of a family pet; a cat.

Stratford firefighters began a multifaceted operation of search and rescue; searching for any trapped occupants including the reported missing cat along with extinguishment of the fire.

Bridgeport Fire Department crews under the command of Assistant Chief Richard Thode assigned a single ladder company crew to assist Stratford units operating at the incident.

Assistant Chief Brennan the Stratford incident commander declared the incident under control at 7:05 p.m. Twenty two Stratford firefighters along with three engines, one rescue, and one ladder responded from Stratford Fire; Bridgeport Fire assisted with one ladder with four firefighters, Assistant Chief Thode and his aide.

The structure was heavily damaged by the fire rendering it uninhabitable. During the search and rescue operation, Stratford firefighter Gregory Anderson was successful in finding the missing feline which was turned over to the homeowner unharmed.

It is also important to note that a Mr. Mathew Hennessy of 40 Emerald Place; a neighbor observed the fire from across the street and ran to the home and kicked in the front door to alert an occupant, a Mr. Daniel Carroll who was asleep in a rear bedroom unaware that his home was on fire.

Mr. Hennessy assisted Mr. Carroll and his pet dog in evacuating the structure. No firefighters or civilians were injured during this fire.

The Stratford Fire Department would like to remind its residents that should an emergency be reported via a cellular telephone, it is imperative that the caller stay on the line to have their location and the location of the incident being reported verified by the 911 operator.

The location technology currently being utilized by the many cellular providers is imperfect, in that the exact location many not always display in the 911 center, or may not route to the responsible jurisdiction based on the caller location.

The Stratford Fire Marshals Office was called in to investigate the cause of the fire which is still under investigation; however it is not believed to be suspicious in its origin.

The last Stratford Fire unit left the scene at 9:07 p.m. The Milford Fire Department sent an engine company to Stratford Fire Headquarters to cover the town along with the remaining uncommitted engine company from Stratford.

The owner of record for the property according to Stratford Tax Assessor records is listed as Janet N. Carroll; and the resident according to the Stratford Fire Marshal is Daniel Carroll.

Have a safe and happy Christmas Holiday!

Please remember to replace smoke detector batteries annually!

Deputy Chief of Operations Jonathan Gottfried