Elderly Resident Injured In Kitchen Fire In Hamden: Officials

HAMDEN, CT — An elderly resident suffered a hand injury while attempting to extinguish a kitchen fire Sunday evening in Hamden, according to fire officials. Firefighters responded to the 100 block of Eramo Terrace at about 6:35 p.m. on April 22 after a neighbor reported a fire, describing smoke coming from the chimney, roof and vents, according to Deputy Fire Chief Gary Merwede.

Engine 9 from the Johnson Road Station arrived on the scene at about 6:40 p.m. and reported a working fire that had extended from the kitchen to the attic space in the ranch-style home. Merwede said attack lines were placed in the kitchen and attic area and the fire was declared under control by Incident Commander Battalion Chief Gary Couture at 7:01 p.m.

Most of the fire damage was contained in the kitchen area and attic space directly above the kitchen, according to Merwede. Fire Marshal Brian Dolan determined that the fire originated from an unattended pot of boiling oil, which ignited and spread to an interior kitchen wall.

“Acting as a chimney, the interior wall space fed the flames and heat to the attic,” Merwede wrote in a press release. “The elderly homeowner, who was home alone, attempted to extinguish the fire in the kitchen with a pan of water, but could not stop the growing fire. He also attempted to use a fire extinguisher, but the fire had already grown too large. During the process, the homeowner sustained a hand injury from broken glass. He exited his home to find that a neighbor had notified 911 and was treated on-scene by Hamden Paramedics when they arrived.

“Firefighters used salvage covers to limit damage to household furnishings during overhaul and fire investigation. It is expected the homeowner will be displaced and stay with friends or relatives during renovations.”

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Photos via the Hamden Fire Department