20 Residents Displaced, Firefighter Injured in Hamden Apartment Fire: Officials

HAMDEN, CT — Twenty residents were displaced and one firefighter sustained a minor arm injury as a result of a structure fire at the Seramonte Apartment complex, located at 649 Mix Avenue, on Monday night, according to fire officials.

Hamden Fire Marshal Brian Dolan determined the fire was accidental and originated in an apartment in the "B" side of the building when a pot of boiling oil ignited on a stove top.

Firefighters arrived at the scene at about 10:13 p.m. and reported heavy black smoke pushing from the front (A) side of the two-story multi-family apartment building, according to Deputy Fire Chief Gary Merwede.

Hamden Police officers assisted by banging on doors to notify and evacuate nearby residents.

“After forcing entry, the initial fire attack crew encountered high heat and rolling fire in a first floor apartment,” Merwede said in a press release. “Additional units initiated primary searches throughout the building, all reported negative.

“The largest volume of fire was located in the rear (C) side of the building and auto-extended out the rear windows to the second floor and attic spaces.”

A second alarm was initiated by Incident Commander Ronald Desroches at 10:17 p.m.

“Entry was forced into attached apartments located at 655 Mix Avenue to prevent extension of the fire to the attic spaces or apartments next door,” Merwede said. “This effort was successful. IC declared the fire under control at 11:01 p.m.”

Hamden volunteer firefighters, the New Haven Fire Department, and AMR assisted with regular call volume elsewhere in town during this incident.

Hamden’s Building Inspector was called to the scene, along with the American Red Cross and Hamden CERT members to assist with displaced residents.

Four total units were affected by fire and water damage at 649 Mix Avenue and an additional four units at 655 Mix Avenue were affected by loss of heat and electrical power, according to Merwede.

One resident was evaluated on scene for smoke inhalation but refused transport, Merwede said.

Photos courtesy of the Hamden Fire Department

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