New London Blaze Injures One Firefighter

By Katie Warchut
The Day
Published on 9/28/2006

New London - A roaring, two-alarm fire tore through an abandoned home at 7 Crescent Street early Thursday morning, sending smoke billowing around the neighborhood and injuring one firefighter.

James Lewis, the acting lieutenant at the scene, suffered second-degree burns on his neck, after some embers fell between his hood and the collar of his jacket, said Battalion Chief Tom Curcio. He was treated and released from Lawrence & Memorial Hospital.

When firefighters arrived around 12:15 a.m., all three floors of the house were on fire, Curcio said. Firefighters attacked the fire aggressively from the outside, until it was safe to go inside.

They then opened up all the interior walls looking for hot spots inside the house, Curcio said. They used the ladder truck to access the attic area through a front window because the rear stairwell was completely burnt out, Curcio said. They also used a saw to cut holes in the roof for ventilation.

About 22 firefighters responded, in addition to the Sub Base Fire Department. They left the scene around 4 a.m., Curcio said.

I want to say what a good job the guys did because of the amount of fire, Curcio said.

The ladder truck that normally covers that part of the city is out of service due to budgetary reasons, leaving the department two people short, Curcio said. "Three men did the work of five people when they first arrived at the scene," he said.

Fire Marshal Calvin Darrow said the cause is undetermined, and anyone with information should contact police at 447-5269 or the state arson hotline at 800-842-7766. He estimated the damage at about $200,000.