Month: November 2013

Monroe home burns twice overnight

#Monroe CT–A house on Harmony Lane in the Stepney section of town sustained heavy damage after a fire broke out around 2:15am on Tuesday. When Stepney firefighters arrived at the 2,700 sq ft colonial at 58 Harmony Lane, the attached garage was fully engulfed in fire. Vounteer firefighters from Stepney, Monroe, Stevenson, and Long Hill first fought the blaze from the outside, then advanced into the house and stopped the fire before the home was destroyed. The house sustained heavy damage from the fire and smoke.

A total of 5 engines, a ladder, and a rescue truck responded. Volunteer firefighters from Botsford and White Hills covered the town while firefighters operated for over three hours at the house fire.

No one was home when firefighters arrived and no firefighters were injured. A neighbor had spotted the fire and called 911.

Firefighters were called to the same residence earlier in the evening around 10:50pm for a small fire in a different area of the house. The Monroe fire marshal’s office, CT state fire marshal, and Monroe police are investigating the cause of the fires.

Fairfield Fire responds to 500 pound propane tank leak

#FAIRFIELD, CT, November 5, 2013: On Tuesday morning at 9:21am the Fairfield Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call from a worker on the scene reporting a propane leak at 276 Pemburn Street. Fairfield Fire Engines 1, 2, 3, and 4, Ladder 2, Cars 3 and 5 responded, with Car 3 first to arrive on scene to report that an aboveground valve had been damaged and was leaking propane from a recently filled 500 gallon inground tank.
Fire personnel established protective hoselines and were able to diminish the leak with patch materials while awaiting the arrival of the Fairfield Fire Department Hazardous Materials Trailer. Upon its arrival fire fighters set up a newly acquired propane flare kit in order to safely burn off the contents of the tank if the responding Gault repairman from the tank company was unable to make the necessary repairs, according to Assistant Chief Scott Bisson who served as Incident Commander.
Although initial efforts to repair the damaged valve were not successful, the leak was temporarily stopped awaiting additional Gault resources to remove the remaining Liquefied Propane Gas, after which Fire Department personnel will flare off any remaining vapors from the tank for its removal and repair. Fire personnel will remain on scene through the afternoon until the hazard has been mitigated, added Bisson.
Residents from nearby homes were advised to leave for their own convenience due to the length of street blocked by fire apparatus, but no evacuations were necessary as ongoing metering found no explosive gases outside the immediate area of the leak. “We take these types of situations seriously, especially in light of recent incidents,” said Bisson who remained on scene at press time. “Preparing for the worst while working for the best possible outcome is what we’re all about.”

Assistant Chief Christopher Tracy
Chief of Training, Fairfield Fire Dept
Director, Fairfield Regional Fire School

Anti-Gang Program Kicks off in Bridgeport Schools

Anti-Gang Program Kicks off in Bridgeport Schools
(Bridgeport, CT – Nov. 5, 2013) – The Police Department will introduce a gang reduction program in five city schools aimed at giving children the tools to resist the lure of gangs.
The GREAT program will launch in January at Wilbur L. Cross School, Curiale School, Dunbar School, Roosevelt School and Luis Munoz Marin School. The GREAT program, short for Gang Resistance Education And Training, will focus on 6th and 7th graders.
“The goal is to reach young children before they get involved with these groups,” said Police Chief Joseph L. Gaudett Jr. “We know kids are exposed to them in some neighborhoods. We know peer pressure can be a powerful force. We need to work hard to give these young people the tools to say ‘no’.”
The program describes itself as an “immunization against delinquency, youth violence, and gang membership for children in the years immediately before the prime ages for introduction into gangs and delinquent behavior.”
GREAT in Bridgeport will be funded through a $67,000 state grant. Sessions are taught by city police officers. Several officers are currently completing recertification, and the department will send additional officers to the next training session.
“It’s great news that this program is returning to Bridgeport schools,” said Mayor Bill Finch. “There is no single solution to reducing violence. Children deal with so many influences. This program empowers kids through positive influence and a positive message.”
Mayor Finch thanked State Rep. Ezequiel Santiago for his assistance in securing the grant.
Superintendant of Schools Paul G. Vallas welcomed the program into the schools.
“This is really important work for our community and kids,” he said. “Providing young people with convincing alternatives to bad influences and violent lifestyles empowers them, reinforces positive values, and shows that gangs offer only a life of fear and failure.”
Capt. Roderick Porter, who heads the Community Services Division, said the ultimate goal is to expand the program to an additional five schools. The first five schools were selected in conjunction with the Board of Education, looking at areas where an anti-gang message is most needed.
The program will include the anti-gang message of GREAT, the anti-drug message of DARE and will include an anti-bullying component.
There will also be a component for parents. GREAT instructors will work to identify the children at greatest risk and engage their families, Porter said.
“We need to support the families as well, tell them the signs to look for and how they can influence their children to make good decisions,” Porter said.
Bill Kaempffer
Public Safety Spokesman
Bridgeport Police Department
Bridgeport Fire Department

Exit mobile version