Family Escapes Fire On Christmas Eve In Fairfield

FAIRFIELD, CT — A husband and wife escaped from a fire by scurrying down a vine from the second-floor of their home on Christmas Eve morning, according to fire officials. A teenage girl awoke to neighbors screaming for help while attempting to escape from a second-floor window due to the early morning fire on Puritan Road in Fairfield. Officials said the husband and wife had to “make a life-threating exit due to toxic smoke and fire on the first floor.”

The teenage neighbor called 911 just before 8 a.m. on Monday morning and Engine Company One, under the command of Lt. Richard Kazzi, arrived on the scene within four minutes of dispatch, according to officials. The crew “started advancing a hose line into high heat and smoke on first floor to attempt to contain and then extinguish the fire,” officials said.

A member of Rescue Company One suffered a second-degree burn to his face while conducting a search for life on the second floor above the fire, officials said. He was treated and released by the Bridgeport Hospital Burn Unit.

“Unfortunately, this is now the third fire where residents were trapped on the second floor in recent history," Assistant Fire Chief Erik Kalapir said. Last year, a fire on Morehouse Lane occurred on Christmas Night and in September 2017 a fire occurred on Old Post Road; both fast-moving fires forced occupants to jump from second floor windows.

“Fires are burning hotter and faster due to modern day residential furnishing, and residents have limited time to get out,” Kalapir said. “Early response times by firefighting forces are essential, and families need to practice emergency exit fire drills in the home."

The injured firefighter was treated at the scene by American Medical Response and taken to Bridgeport Hospital. Bridgeport and Westport Fire Department units covered unmanned stations for immediate fire protection. The fire is currently under investigation by the Fairfield Fire Prevention Division and the State of Connecticut's Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit, officials said.

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Photos and video courtesy of the Fairfield Fire Department