2-Alarm Fire Displaces 35 From Homes In Hamden: Officials

HAMDEN, CT — More than 30 people were displaced from their homes after a two-alarm fire early Saturday morning at the Town Walk Apartments in Hamden, according to officials.

The American Red Cross is providing assistance to 15 families – 30 adults and five children – after the fire that was reported around 4:25 a.m. on May 6.

Firefighters arrived at the scene at Town Walk Drive within five minutes of dispatch at 4:32 a.m., according to Fire Marshal Brian Dolan. Squad One reported heavy fire on the exterior of the building encompassing two decks and the building’s roof, according to Dolan.

Dolan said firefighters and neighbors were able to alert and rescue numerous families before the fire spread to the interior of the units.

“Squad One began an aggressive interior attack of the second-floor unit where the fire started,” Dolan wrote in a news release. “The crew was able to knock down a large portion of the fire and perform a primary search for occupants. The roof and floors of the structure began to fail due to the lightweight wood truss construction design of the building. At this point firefighters began to use exterior master streams from the aerial ladder truck to bring the fire under control. The fire was escalated to a second alarm.

“North Haven Fire Department provided assistance at the scene while the New Haven and Cheshire Fire Departments offered station coverage to the South and North end of town.”

The apartment building contained 42 units, and Dolan said 14 of the units sustained considerable amounts of fire, smoke and water damage. Another seven units had light to moderate smoke damage, according to Dolan.

Dolan said no injuries to residents or firefighters were reported.

“Numerous agencies assisted the Hamden Fire Department and residents at the scene including Hamden CERT, Hamden Police, Hamden Community Services, and the American Red Cross,” Dolan wrote.

The Hamden Fire Marshal Office and Connecticut State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit conducted a joint investigation that determined that an electric portable cooking burner on the second-floor deck had been left on “causing it to ignite nearby combustibles and spread to the wooden deck,” according to Dolan.

“The Hamden Fire Department would like to remind residents that the Connecticut State Fire Prevention Code prohibits the use and storage of any type of grill or cooking device on decks, beneath overhangs or within 10 feet of an apartment building,” Dolan wrote.