Woman, 78, Hospitalized After House Fire In Hamden

HAMDEN, CT — A candle that was left burning on a bedroom dresser led to a fire that displaced a family and sent a 78-year-old woman to the hospital for evaluation over the weekend, according to fire officials. Firefighters responded to the scene of a structure fire at 2625 Dixwell Ave. at 10:23 p.m. on Saturday, April 6. Officials said that a couple had just returned home and heard smoke detectors sounding throughout the house.

First-arriving crews reported smoke on the first and second floors of the two-story home. One of the residents had re-entered the house to try and rescue family pets, according to fire officials.

“Firefighters were able to locate the occupant inside the home through the use of a thermal imaging camera and safely remove him and the pets from the house,” officials wrote in a news release. “Firefighters were able to contain the fire to the room of origin, a master bedroom on the second floor. The fire was declared under control at 10:41 p.m. by Battalion Chief John Spencer. There was heavy smoke damage throughout the house along with water damage from the suppression efforts.”

A 78-year-old woman was taken to Yale-New Haven Hospital for evaluation and released the next day, officials said. The residents will be staying with family members while the house is being repaired.

The Fire Marshal’s Office investigated the fire and determined that it had started by a candle that was left burning on a dresser in the bedroom.

The Hamden Fire Department’s responding companies included: Sq1, E2, E3, E5, T1, R1, R2, C1, C3, C5, C8, and C56.

Photo via the Hamden Fire Department