3 People Rescued From House Fire In Hamden

HAMDEN, CT — Firefighters rescued three people who were hanging out of second-floor windows during a house fire on Newhall Street Saturday morning in Hamden, according to officials. Firefighters responded to the 400 block of Newhall Street shortly after 11:30 a.m. on the report of a working basement fire with people trapped on the second floor of the home and unable to escape, according to Fire Chief Gary Merwede.

Merwede said the first-arriving fire companies (Engine 2 and Rescue 2) from the station on Circular Avenue found three people hanging out of second-floor, smoke-filled windows in need of rescue.

“Firefighters made two ladder rescues from the front of the home and one ladder rescue from the rear,” Merwede wrote in a press release. “A fourth person living in the home was able to escape on his own prior to the arrival of the fire department.”

He was taken to Yale-New Haven Hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation. The people rescued from the second floor declined further medical treatment, according to Merwede.

“Fire crews suppressed a basement fire and searched the home for additional victims,” Merwede said. “Extensive overhaul was required after it was determined the fire had extended into interior walls on one side of the building. Hidden fires and hot spots were located and extinguished. Battalion Chief Gary Couture declared the fire under control at 12:12 p.m. The first and second floors sustained smoke and heat damage, the basement had heavy fire damage.

“Parishioners from the Faith Tabernacle Church on Newhall Street provided emergency shelter for the displaced family and were assisted by the Hamden CERT team until the arrival of Red Cross representatives, who arranged for emergency lodging.”

The cause of this fire in under investigation by Hamden Fire Inspector Ralph DiFonzo Jr. There were no firefighter injuries reported. The following companies worked this scene: E2, R2, Sq1, R1, E3, T1, E5, E9, Vol E8, C1, C3, C4, C7, and C55, according to Merwede. All units cleared the scene by 2:06 p.m.