Raging fire consumes home on West Avenue

By MICHAEL P. MAYKO
ConnPost Staff writer
Article Last Updated: 10/04/2008 11:44:37 PM EDT

Raging fire consumes home on West Avenue - Topix

BRIDGEPORT--A raging fire consumed an abandoned house on West Avenue shooting bright orange flames as high as 50 feet in the air which forced firefighters and police to evacuate nearby residents close down two streets and detour traffic at 8:45 p.m. Saturday.

Within minutes the two-and-a-half wood frame home collapsed into a pile of smoldering rubble under the weight of water being pumped on it from aerial hoses. "This was the most intense fire I have encountered in years," said Assistant West Side Fire Chief Bruce Elander. "When we got here you couldn't even see a structure -- just a huge fireball from top to bottom. It was all flames."

He said the heat was so intense it melted lights on firefighting equipment.

But nearby neighbors are concerned that homeless people who they often seen taking refuge inside may have been trapped in it.

Their concerns led police to seek descriptions of possible residents.

One was found safe not far from the burning building.

Elander said it would be difficult to search for causes through the still smoldering rubble Saturday night.

"The entire foundation is a swimming pool," he said.

The flames licked the roof of a nearby three-family home causing slight damage to the roof.

"We went into the attic and pulled apart some of the ceiling but didn't find any fire," he said.

The house located on West Avenue near West Liberty Street is bordered by a huge parking lot. It is near the YMCA and the Connecticut Post printing plant

The raging flames drew nearly 100 people to the adjoining streets. Some came from as far away as Washington Avenue. It also caused motorists to pull over on Route 8-25 to watch.

Jennifer Poteau, who lives across the street, said she felt the heat in her rear apartment. "I looked out the window and saw gigantic flames," she said. Her aunt then called 9-1-1.

Another neighbor, Steve Woolwine said he had just come inside and heard "popping and crackling sounds. I thought it was raining so I looked outside and saw flames. It went up so quickly." Woolwine, Poteau and Nick Keppler, the managing editor of the Fairfield County Weekly, who also lives across the street, all commended the fire department for bringing the blaze under control so quickly. "They did a great job getting it out," said Woolwine. "They were very efficient."

"Nobody panicked," said Poteau. "They worked quickly and efficiently."

"What we did was surround and drown," said Elander as firefighters continued to pump water on the smoldering rubble.

Four engine companies, two ladder trucks and a rescue truck carrying about 37 men responded to the blaze.

A United Illuminating crew was on the scene late Saturday night.