Roof Fire Breaks Out At Westport Strip Mall: FD

WESTPORT, CT — A smoldering fire caused by roof repair work at a Westport strip mall was quickly extinguished Monday afternoon, according to fire officials.

In a news release, Assistant Chief Brian Meadows said crews responded to a fire alarm at a strip mall of multiple businesses on Post Road West around 2:30 p.m.

Firefighters who arrived at the strip mall first reported a burning odor and light smoke inside the building, as well as smoke coming from a roof scuttle hatch, Meadows said.

After checking each of the businesses for smoke and flames, crews located a smoldering fire involving roofing materials in the area of the roof scuttle. Firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze and worked on providing salvage and overhaul to the business directly below, Meadows said.

According to Meadows, roof repair work from earlier in the day was determined to be the cause of the fire.

"The activation of the smoke detectors and monitored fire alarm system provided early notification," Meadows said in a news release, "allowing the occupants to evacuate and firefighters to quickly extinguish the fire before it spread."