Firefighters Battle Apartment Building Fire In Norwalk

NORWALK, CT — Firefighters extinguished a third floor apartment fire on Wall Street in Norwalk on Thursday, which the building's sprinkler system helped to contain, according to Norwalk Deputy Fire Chief Edward Prescott.

No injuries were reported in the blaze, which broke out in the kitchen of one of the apartments in the former Twin City Building at about 5:30 p.m.

"Firefighters forced their way into the unoccupied apartment and finished extinguishing the fire, that the sprinkler had kept in check," Prescott said in a statement. "The fire scorched the countertop and cabinets creating a heavy smoke condition in the apartment and light smoke condition throughout the building."

Firefighters shut off the sprinkler system as soon as possible to limit water damage, but the apartment below on the second floor sustained some minor water damage, as did the basement. Firefighters used squeegees to push standing water out the fire escape door, on the two upper floors.

Tenants of all other apartments in the building were able to return to their units soon afterward, but the unit with the fire was posted as unfit for occupancy until repairs could be made, according to Prescott. He added that the property owners were making arrangements to have the sprinkler company, alarm company, electricians and a cleaning company make all necessary repairs.

Wall Street traffic was diverted by Norwalk police for just over an hour to allow the fire crews to operate, Prescott said. Three engines, two trucks, a rescue vehicle and a command car all responded to the call.

The cause of the fire is being investigated by Norwalk Fire Inspector Luca Feola.