Fire Breaks Out On Greenwich Avenue; First Responders Injured: Update

GREENWICH, CT — A fire broke out at a building on upper Greenwich Avenue late Friday morning, sending one police officer to the hospital, according to the Greenwich Police Department.

A firefighter also suffered minor injuries, the Greenwich Fire Department later said

Deputy Police Chief Mark Zuccerella said a call came in at 11:43 a.m. reporting fire on the third floor of 24 Greenwich Ave. Crews from the Greenwich Fire Department, GPD, and Greenwich Emergency Medical Services responded.

While units were en route, a police officer who was on foot in the area assisted in the evacuation of some people from the building, which was filled with heavy smoke, Zuccerella said.

The officer was then taken to Greenwich Hospital for the treatment of smoke inhalation, and is expected to be "fine," Zuccerella said.

Fire crews arrived within minutes and located a “fast-moving” fire in the rear of the structure, the GFD said.

Members quickly deployed hose lines and searched for any occupants within the building.

All occupants evacuated safely and crews worked for less than an hour to bring the fire under control, the GFD said, noting that damage was contained to the rear decking and roof.

The GFD posted on Facebook shortly after 12 p.m., saying they were in the process of extinguishing a fire "in the rear of Greenwich Avenue." They urged residents to use caution in the area.

Putnam Avenue was closed at Deerfield and Lafayette Place, as was the upper portion of Greenwich Avenue.

The area reopened in the afternoon.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Fire Marshal’s office