Firefighter Seriously Injured Battling Blaze In Fairfield

FAIRFIELD, CT — A firefighter was seriously injured while battling one of multiple fires the Fairfield Fire Department responded to Thursday night that were likely caused by lightning, according to officials. Firefighters responded to a structure fire at 1300 Mill Hill Road at about 6:40 p.m. Engines 1, 3, 4, 5, Ladder 2, Rescue 1, and Car 3 responded while Engine 4 arrived on scene and reported smoke showing from a large detached garage.

Officials said units used multiple hand lines to aggressively battle the fire. Incident Commander, Assistant Chief Schuyler Sherwood said that the homeowners were “very lucky the fire was discovered in the early stages by a delivery person or the damage could have been much worse.”

One firefighter suffered serious facial injuries and was taken to the hospital by American Medical Response. His injuries were not life-threatening, officials said. The last fire unit cleared the scene at 9:25 p.m.

Shortly after the alarm was received for Mill Hill Road, the Fairfield Emergency Communications Center received a call for smoke in a structure at 744 Gilbert Highway.

“Fairfield Engine 2, Car 5, and a mutual aid assignment from the Westport Fire Department responded,” officials wrote in a press release. “Westport units arrived on scene and reported the invisible dog fence transformer in the residence had shorted out, possibly as a result of the lightning strike, causing a smoke condition in the residence. There were no reported injuries. The last unit cleared the scene at 7:34 p.m.”

The cause of both fires are being investigated by the Fairfield Fire Marshal.

Photo via the Fairfield Fire Department