Chemicals Bring DEEP To Oxford Fire

OXFORD, CT — Firefighters used foam to put out a fire inside a large manufacturing facility on Willenbrock Road earlier this morning, according to the Oxford Center Volunteer Fire Company.

The department said crews were first sent to the building for an automatic fire alarm. When the first unit arrived, heavy smoke was showing from a corner of the building, and the call was upgraded to a structure fire response.

Firefighters found the fire in a machine inside a plating room that had chemical parts washing tanks, officials said. An engine crew brought a hose line into the building while another firefighter connected to a hydrant outside.

Crews were able to knock the fire down quickly, but had to switch to firefighting foam to fully extinguish it, according to the fire company.

The building had moderate damage in the plating room and smoke damage throughout the rest of the facility, officials said. The fire company said the quick response helped save the building.

The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection was called because of the chemical conditions inside the building, according to the fire company. DEEP later gave the all clear, and the building was turned over to the owner.

Oxford firefighters were assisted by the Seymour Fire Department, Southbury Fire Department, Beacon Hose Company and Oxford EMS.