A fire at a Florence Drive residence Sunday afternoon left the home “uninhabitable,” and sent an occupant to the hospital, according to assistant fire chief Nick Verdicchio.
Verdicchio said firefighters from Huntington Co. #3, White Hills Co. #5 and the Echo Hose Co. #1 responded to the residence around 3:30 p.m. on report of a structure fire. The first units on scene reported heavy smoke coming from the windows, and neighbors claimed that there were two people inside.
Firefighters entered the home, which Verdicchio said had “hoarding conditions. It was not easy to move around because there was so much debris.”
One person was removed from the fire and was taken to Bridgeport Hospital. The fire was knocked down in 40 to 45 minutes. Verdicchio said one firefighter sprained an ankle at the scene and was treated for his injuries. In all, Fire Marshal John Tortora said that three firefighters sustained minor injuries while battling the blaze.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Shelton Fire Marshal’s Office, State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Shelton police. The Monroe Fire Department responded with a tanker and the Nichols Fire Department covered Shelton during the incident. Three engine, two rescue trucks and a ladder truck responded.
Around the time of the Florence Drive blaze, White Hills Co. #5 and the Pine Rock Co. #4 responded to 7 Queen St. for a brush fire, which was brought under control.