One hurt, 9 homeless in city fire

JOHN BURGESON jburgeson@ctpost.com
Article Last Updated: 02/01/2008 04:26:14 PM EST

BRIDGEPORT — One woman was seriously burned and nine others in two Vietnamese families were left homeless when a fire erupted at a Wood Avenue home early this morning.

The third floor of the house at 116 Wood Ave. was rented to the Pham family, according to Carol Banner of the Mid-Fairfield County chapter of the American Red Cross.

When the smoke alarms were triggered, Hieu Pham, 9, ran from the building, but his mother, Phuong, 38; brother, Hai, also 9; and 11-month-old baby sister, Vivian, could make it only the second floor, she said.

Firefighters from Ladder 11 entered the burning building and Lt. Joseph Southard found Hai and handed him to Firefighter Mike Kacdegowitz of Engine 3, who was perched on a ladder.

Meanwhile, Firefighter David Diaz rescued the mother and baby, safely carrying them through the burning building. All were checked for smoke inhalation at Bridgeport Hospital and later released.

The blaze was apparently started by an electric space heater, according to Fire Marshal Bruce Collins.

"We didn't find the heater, but that's what we learned from people at the scene," he said. "I don't know what the response time was, but it was pretty quick — but there might have been a delay from the time the fire started to the time we got the call."

Collins said that five members of the unidentified family living on the first floor of the three-family dwelling, including the injured woman, managed to escape. A sixth member of that family, the father, wasn't home at the time, he said.

The second floor of the wood-frame house was unoccupied, he said, adding that the woman who was burned was first brought to St. Vincent's Medical Center and later transferred to the burn unit at Bridgeport Hospital.

All of those living at the house are of Vietnamese background, Collins said.

The fire was discovered by police officers from the Neighborhood Enforcement Team. The officers — Jason Amato, Jason Borrico Ron Jersey and Gilberto DelValle — also helped out with the rescue.

Also rescued from the blaze was a little lhasa apso dog belonging to the first-floor family. Collins is taking care of the pooch until the family is able to care for the pet.

Responding to the blaze, in addition to Ladder 11 and Engine 3, were Ladder 5, Engine 4 and Engine 7.

Fire Department spokesman Mike Giannotti said the home had working smoke detectors, which he credited with helping to save lives.

"One family has already been placed in transitional housing with the help of our community partners," said Tom Lenhart, the response team manager for the Red Cross. He added that the others have temporary lodgings at a hotel.

"Both families arrived at the hospital barefoot," he said, adding that they were given money to buy clothing and groceries.

"Mrs. Pham did everything right." said Banner. "She taught her children to get out when they heard a smoke alarm go off. She had her purse and papers in a known place so that she could grab them and go. And when rescue arrived they trusted the firefighters who were risking their lives to save them."

The Red Cross chapter is accepting donations to help the two families left homeless by the fire. Call 1-800-319-9935 for more information.