Child, 10, Jumps From Second Floor Window To Escape Fairfield Fire: UPDATE

FAIRFIELD, CT — Before the Fairfield Fire Department responded to an early Saturday house fire they came upon a truly frightening scene. A 10-year-old child, trapped inside the burning house, had jumped from a second floor bedroom window, fire officials said. The child was injured in the jump and was taken to a local hospital along with an adult who lived in the home at 480 Old Post Road, fire officials said.

The fire broke out at 1:28 am and responding units could see a column of smoke while responding from the fire station and received reports that a child was trapped on the second floor of the house, fire officials said.

The first arriving unit arrived on scene and found heavy smoke and fire coming from the rear of the structure. The family and visiting guests were found outside of the house. The child that was trapped inside the house had jumped from a second floor bedroom window prior to fire department arrival and sustained injuries requiring medical attention, fire officials said.

Fire crews advanced initial hose lines inside the building and were confronted with extreme heat and smoke conditions. Due to the older style of construction, the fire quickly entered the hidden void spaces and travelled inside the walls from the 1st floor up to the attic making fire control extremely challenging, officials said.

Units from Westport, Bridgeport and Easton fire departments were called to the scene to assist Fairfield units with extinguishment and overhaul. Stratfied volunteer fire department assisted units by filling air bottles on the scene. The Milford fire canteen was called to the scene for support.

Assistant Chief Roger Caisse, the incident commander stated, "fires like this should serve as a reminder about the importance of having working smoke detectors to alert occupants and an established meeting place outside in the event of a fire."

No firefighter injuries were reported from the scene. Two family members, an adult and a 10 year-old child, were transported to the hospital for medical care and remain hospitalized. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Fairfield Fire marshal's office.

The house is not habitable due to fire damage and the occupants are being relocated to temporary housing, officials said.

Photo credit: Fairfield Fire Department