Author: Stephen Krauchick

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10:52pm–#Fairfield–North Stratfield School has been evacuated due to an odor of gas.  Faculty member pulled the alarm due to the smell.  Fire department is on scene and the school has been evacuated.

5:18pm–#Fairfield–A blue compact car was reported to be following a woman’s daughter and niece and turned left on Blue Ridge Road towards Melviille Ave. about 5 minutes ago. Police investigating.

4:24pm–#Fairfield–#Vote–Report of someone shining a green laser into the eyes of voters at North Stratfield School. Nothing located, I even went to the scene and couldn’t find anything.

1:53am–#Norwalk– An armed robbery just occurred at the Norwalk South Railroad Station in a gold sedan with a partial registration plate of 734.

1:49am–#Stratford–Possible carbon monoxide poisoning at 39 Gregory Circle with symptoms. Victims already taken to hospital by private vehicle. Fire department requested to the home to investigate.

11:20pm–#New Haven–Shooting at Valley Street and Mountain Road with one victim shot. Crime scene has been secured and police is reliving units at this time for the shift change. This is an active crime scene. Unknown condition of victim

11:07pm–#New Haven–Flasher at Church and Chapel Street. Flashing cars as they go by. Police on the way.

5:35pm–Fairfield– An SUV rear ended an empty school bus on Reef Road at One Rod Highway.  No injuries were reported.  Special thanks to Sean Haffner for sending us this photo!

At 9:16am Sunday morning the Fairfield Emergency Communications Center received a call reporting “heavy black smoke” in a residence on Twin Lanes Road on the northern border of town.   Assistant Chief George Gomola assumed command; Cars 1, 2 and 5 along with Fire Marshal Bill Kessler also responded. Fire crews extinguished the fire which had apparently started in the basement, burned through the first and second floor and extended into the attic.  One firefighter was transported to the hospital by AMR, and a family pet had apparently succumbed to smoke inhalation when rescuers found it in their search of the residence.

“We were fortunate that the town approved our request for additional hydrants in that area several years ago,” said Chief Felner. “If not for that foresight, and for our ability to address the lack of a positive water supply prior to that time, the fire would have extended much further into the home.   The fire remains under investigation by the Fire Marshal’s Office at press time.  Bridgeport Fire Department provided mutual aid during the fire and responded to quite a few calls during the day.

The Obama administration announced its objection to adding President Franklin Roosevelt’s D-Day prayer to the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.    Roosevelt asked the nation to join him in prayer as U.S. and allied troops launched the invasion that led to the defeat of Nazi Germany. He asked God to give the allied troops courage and faith, saying, “With thy blessing we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy.”

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Coventry–Report of a house explosion on Old Oak Trail–Lifestar is airborne, 1 patient to Hartford Hospital, also now stating 1 dead. This may also be from re-energizing the home and some sort of fumes involved.

9:37pm–Bridgeport–Report of a pedestrian struck outside the movie theater on Canfield Road.

8:21pm–Stratford–The Subway on Barnum Avenue has just been robbed by a black male wearing a red sweater. May have either displayed a handgun or showed one in his waistband.

West Haven–Report of a University of New Haven student falling out of a 4th story window at Sheffield Hall. Reports indicate the student may have an altered mental status.

12:53am–Ansonia– Dryer fire reported in the basement of 177 Howard Avenue

12:51pm–Trumbull–Car fire in the parking lot of the Trumbull Marriott.

Legendary boxer Smokin’Joe Frazieris in the final fight of his life.  “He’s in serious shape, we’re looking for a miracle,’’ said a source close to the former heavyweight champ. “They’re only giving him a short time to live. We need to have as many people as possible praying for Joe right now.’’  Read full article…..

Andy Rooney, whose prickly wit was long a mainstay of CBS News and whose homespun commentary on “60 Minutes,” delivered every week from 1978 until 2011, made him a household name, died on Friday in New York City.  CBS News said in a statement that Mr. Rooney died after complications following minor surgery.  Read full story….

Norwalk—At 1:20am a call came in of a structure fire at 105 South Main Street.  At 1:22am the first truck rolled up to the scene, confirmed a two and a half story structure fully involved on the first and second floor and called in a second alarm.  Fire fighters made a rear entry for primary searches for victims.  Three hoses were brought in to fight the blaze.  By 1:36am fire officials confirm the bulk of the fire on the first floor had been knocked down and they were advancing further into the structure.   At 1:44am fire department continued to battle the fire inside the walls on the front and right side of the structure.  They opened walls and continued the three hose attack.

At 1:53am they confirmed that all occupants were out of the building and the landlord was on the scene.  The front right side continued to give firefighters trouble now on the third floor; they opened three vent holes into the roof and then stripped the fascia off for line penetration.  Power was secured by 2:24am but three fire lines were still attacking hot spots.  New Canaan Fire provided mutual aid to Norwalk.  At 2:55 the fire chief called the scene under control.   Fire official suspect a damaged electrical service line is to blame.  Additional tenants from apartments located behind the burned out building also had to be relocated when power was turned off.

There are sixteen residents displaced, the Red Cross expected to be on the scene approximately by 3:30am to help them find shelter.

After a four-year battle with its biggest lender, Dippin’ Dots Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Thursday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Paducah, Ky., to avoid foreclosure.  The manufacturer of the quirky and colorful ice cream beads, which are flash frozen using liquid nitrogen, owes $12 million, the bulk of it to a unit of Regions Financial Corp., which moved to foreclose on the loan this week.  Read full story here ….

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1:46pm–Milford–I-95 northbound is closed due to an overturned boat at exit 41.   The motors on the boat have shifted and the firefighters are trying to figure how to upright the boat.  There is also a fuel leaking from the boat, DEP called to the scene.  Quarry Road (the overpass) is also closed.  Not a good start to the Friday commute.

12:07–New Haven– Police busy with a large crowd fighting at Chapel and Church Street. Large police presence in the area.

Shelton–Head on collisionRiver Road (Route 110) and Rocky Rest Road. Fire department extricated and two, three on the way to St. Vincent’s Hospital.

9:10pm–#Fairfield–Police, EMTs have their hands full with an guest at the Best Western on 100 Kings Highway Cutoff that has overdosed on heroin.

8:12pm–Bridgeport  — Fire department on the scene at 223 Iranistan Avenue for a car on fire under the building. All hands at work.

5:49pm–#Bridgeport–EMTs have their hands full with with a combative patient in the back of the ambulance at Boston Ave. and Asylum Ave. Patient was unresponsive, came to and started fight with EMTs. Police called to assist, now on scene.

The State Office of Policy and Management (OPM) has approved a $100,000 Small Town
Economic Assistance Program (STEAP) grant that will help the Town of Fairfield make needed
improvements at the downtown train station on Unquowa Road.

Grant funding will be used to install permanent canopy structures to cover the staircases on both
sides of the train tracks. Lighting will be provided under the canopies. In addition, the stairs,
which are badly worn and uneven, will be repaired. The adjacent landing and stairways leading
to the station platforms will also be restored.

First Selectman Mike Tetreau said, “This is an important project for the thousands of commuters
who have to use these stairs in inclement weather. This project will go a long way in ensuring
their safety and comfort throughout the year.”

Pending appropriate town bodies approval and weather permitting, the project is slated to begin
as early as January 2012.

The STEAP funds economic development, community conservation and quality of life projects
for localities. STEAP funds are issued by the State Bond Commission and can only be used for
capital projects.