Structure Fire Displaces Family of Two in Hamden

Two adults were displaced from their home, but were able to escape uninjured, following a structure fire at Kelly Road in Hamden on Thursday afternoon.

Firefighters responded to 55 Kelly Road just after 3 p.m. and crews observed heavy smoke and fire at the rear of the house that made its way to the attic, according to the New Haven Register.

Firefighters had the fire under control by 3:47 p.m. but the back of the house sustained heavy damage.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The American Red Cross also responded to the scene and is helping the family with emergency food and clothing needs.

The Red Cross is also providing comfort kits containing personal care items such as toothbrushes, deodorant, shaving supplies and other items a resident might not have been able to gather in the rush to escape the fire, spokesman Paul Shipman said in a press release.

Read more from the release below:

The Red Cross has launched a campaign to reduce deaths and injuries caused by home fires by 25 percent in five years. There are two actions you can take to substantially reduce the risk of death or injury in a home fire.

Install smoke alarms: Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a fire in half. Install smoke alarms on every level of your home inside bedrooms and sleeping areas. The Red Cross offers a program to install FREE smoke alarms in your home and provide additional fire safety information. Call 1-877-287-3327 and press option one to request a home fire safety visit or register for a visit at http://www.redcross.org/ct/schedule-a-visit.

Practice fire drills at home: Fire experts agree that you may have as little as 2 minutes to escape a burning home before it’s too late to get out. Use this Home Fire Escape Plan worksheet to plan your evacuation and practice it at least twice a year as a family.

Learn more about the Red Cross home fire prevention campaign.

Fire takes everything. It takes security. It takes safety, dignity and routine. Help the Red Cross give back what fire takes – the items that provide safety and comfort.

Photos courtesy of the Hamden Fire Department

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