DoingItLocal

WASHINGTON (AP) — The ranks of U.S. poor swelled to nearly 1 in 6 people last year, reaching a new high as long-term unemployment woes left millions of Americans struggling and out of work. The number of uninsured edged up to 49.9 million, the biggest in over two decades.  Read more……

Elvis Santiago of 984 Hancock Avenue Bridgeport, CT was charged with 2 counts of Reckless Endangerment First Degree, Unlawful Discharge of a Firearm,Discharge of a Firearm while Under the Influence, Possession of a weapon without a permit, Possession of a Weapon in a Motor Vehicle, and Criminal Mischief in the First
Degree. He was held on a $100,000 bond.

Initial reports early Saturday morning were vandalism to a vehicle parked in the driveway of a home on Barry Scott Drive. The investigation conducted jointly by Patrol Officers and Detectives, quickly determined the damage was caused by gun fire. Detectives through investigative efforts interviewed residents and searched the area for evidence of a shooting. They recovered several spent shell casings in the driveway and also determined three shots had been fired at the home as well. One of those gun shots penetrated the exterior of the home and was located in a room on a second floor.

The investigation continued throughout the morning taking Officers to Hancock Avenue in Bridgeport. Santiago was developed as a suspect through interviews and he is known to a resident of Barry Scott Dr., he later admitted to the shooting.

It should be known to residents that the shooting was done in retaliation to an ongoing dispute and was a targeted shooting, not a random act. Officers and Detectives worked methodically and with great accuracy to make this custodial arrest and to alleviate any concerns of the residents in the Barry Scott Drive area.

Relatives and state dignitaries attended the tenth anniversary of the attack on America at Westport’s Sherwood Island State Park.  The names of 152 9/11 Connecticut victims are inscribed at a new memorial unveiled at the ceremony.

 

Lieutenant William Tuttle from Local Union 1426 shares his thoughts on supporting first responders.

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6:53pm#Fairfield–If you are traveling on Mill Plain Road don’t hit the man laying in the road near Matilda Place.

12:18am–#Bridgeport–Another report of a shooting at Main and Lumber Street.  Suspect fled into a backyard and fire department has been called to cut a hole into fence for their access.

12:15am–#Bridgeport–Report of a gunshot victim at 62 Maple Street.

10:10pm–#Bridgeport–Report of a resident at 1450 Main Street purposefully ingesting batteries. Not sure if this is the same person but we had a similar call a couple months ago.

1:44pm–#Fairfield–Fairfield University Girls Rugby Game–Second ambulance requested for injuries sustained during the game. One is a nineteen year old with a shoulder injury. No word on the second injury.

On Friday, September 9th at 10:00am the Fairfield Fire Department formally dedicated a memorial to the first responders lost on September 11th, 2001. The simple ceremony will take place in front of Fire Headquarters, 140 Reef Road in Fairfield, where Chief Richard Felner acknowledged receipt of the steel obtained from the debris recovered from the World Trade Center site. A plaque commemorating the events has been placed at the base of the memorial alongside a small flower garden.

“The process of obtaining this piece of history started over a year ago when the Port Authority of NY/NJ, the owners of the World Trade Center, announced that they would offer items to departments that wished to have them,” explained Lt. John Cronin, who with the help of Fire Fighter Joe Rainis and Chief Felner made the necessary arrangements. “The application process included a request for the steel, verification of the department intent, a contract authorizing the transfer of the artifact and a certificate of insurance to obtain the steel. Each step in this process required considerable work by both the department and the Port Authority culminating in the steel’s retrieval from a Port Authority hanger at JFK in New York in late May. This piece of steel is a 1 inch thick I-beam about 24 inches high, 48 inches long and weighs over 600 lbs.”

Today, September 9th at 3pm is Chip’s Restaurant’s Grand Opening!  Come join the fun and celebration at 525 Tunxis Hill Cut Off (the old Blockbuster Video location).  Hours are 6.30 am to 9.30 pm every day.

 

Between 9/5/2011 and 9/8/2011, Fire and Police Department personnel responded to six, late night, residential arson fires. These included:

9/5/2011 – 2318hrs: 349 Stratfield Road
9/5/2011 – 0423hrs: 50 Chatham Road
9/5/2011 – 2345hrs: 50 Chatham Road
9/8/2011 – 0219hrs: 1300 North Benson Road
9/8/2011 – 0259hrs: 321 Woodridge Avenue
9/8/2011 – 0340hrs: 53 Cornell Road

The homes appeared to have been targeted because they were vacant and/or were for sale. Several of the homes were extensively damaged, and in one case, a firefighter was hospitalized with burns he suffered while battling the blaze.

These arson cases were made the top priority of the police department, which ultimately involved the extensive investigative efforts of every detective, along with key support from patrol personnel.

These efforts culminated in the 9/8/2011 arrest of Christopher Message, age 34, of Valley Road, Fairfield, CT by detectives from the Fairfield Police Department. He is being charged with three (3) counts of Arson 1st Degree, and one (1) count of Burglary 1st Degree. Additional charges will be forthcoming. His bond has not been set as of the time of this release. Message is also a suspect in several fires in nearby municipalities, and we are currently notifying those agencies.

The Fairfield Police Department would like to express its gratitude for the extensive assistance provided by the Fairfield Fire Department, the Fairfield and State of CT Fire Marshall’s Office, and the CT State Police Major Crime Squad.

The Fairfield Police Department is confident that Message’s arrest will end this spree of serial residential arson fires.

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Multiple Fires in Fairfield Keeps Multiple Fire Units In The State Busy….One Reported Injury To Firefighter-All homes were up for sale….

DoingItLocal.com started with video reporting of a fire at 1300 North Benson Road shortly after 2:15am and we quickly had to adapt to reporting mode as calls for structure fires throughout the town kept firefighters extremely busy.  The timeline is incredible and fortunately we have record capabilities to stay accurate to the reports!  Here is that timeline as we reported live:

At 2:17am Fairfield Patrol Officer “Red 3” reported a lot of smoke coming from North Benson Road near Fairfield University but could not determine the location.  An alarm was immediately sounded to the fire department.  After further investigation Red 3 found the fire coming from 1300 North Benson Road.   Officer Red 3 quickly noted to fire officials this was a vacant home for sale.   The home blocked by many trees.  When fire department and DoingItLocal.com arrived on scene flames could be seen shooting from the third floor/attic area despite the trees.  Challenges fire officials faced were that the driveway was chained off, the terrain was heavily wooded and the building had been closed for some time and forced entry was necessary.  At 2:33am a fifth engine had been called for to the scene.  Bridgeport Fire Department and Westport Fire Department  at this point provided and the fire marshal was called to the scene.  By 2:48am there were five engines, two ladders and multiple hand crews and all working.  By 2:58am Engine a recall of fire was called but holding all units.  Immediately after the recall was sounded a call for the odor of smoke at 268 Woodridge Avenue was sounded and Bridgeport Fire responded.  As Fairfield Fire units returned to service they responded to this call as well.  Bridgeport Engine 11 found this to be a garage fire at 321 Woodridge Avenue.   Additional mutual aid from surrounding towns was asked for, specifically one ladder and one engine from Bridgeport.  At 3:26am the Assistant Fire Chief requested another fire marshall to 268 Woodridge Avenue.  At 3:34am Bridgeport Fire reported the bulk of the fire was knocked down and reported this was another vacant structure.  At 3:40 am another structure fire was reported at 340 Cronnell Road.

So many calls were reported we went live on Facebook:

3:44am–#ctfire Another garage fire at Cornell Road in Fairfeild. More mutual aid coming in from Norwalk.

#ctfire–We are in report mode not video reporting mode…..Stratfield Road north and southbound closed in both directions.. Major fire at Cornell with exposures into the home.

4;31am…#Fairfield–Burglar alarm at Bank of America–1320 Kings Highway–Not leaving anything to chance in Fairfield today….

4:01am–#ctfrire #Fairfield–Gas company requested to 340 Cornell Road with priority.

4:05am–#ctfire #Fairfield Recall of fire at Cornell Road.

4:47am—#ctfire #Fairfield A person of interest seen leaving Cornell Road in a tan sedan with a white male wearing a white tee shirt and blue jeans headed east on Cornell Road.

4:28AM–#ctfire #Fairfield– Firefighter with a hand burn at Cornell and Statfield Road.

4:47am–#ctfire #Fairfield– Fire Marshal now on scene at Woodridge Ave. fire scene.

 

 

FAIRFIELD, CT, September 7, 2011: The Fairfield Emergency Management Team is issuing the following information to residents who believe they may be eligible for Individual Assistance from FEMA in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene: those with damage or losses as a result of the tropical storm are encouraged to register with FEMA by calling 800-621-3362, going online to www.DisasterAssistance.gov, or using their PDA to go to m.fema.gov. Those with speech or hearing disabilities should use the TTY number at 800-462-7585.

“Registering with FEMA is the first step in determining if you qualify for federal disaster assistance,” according to Governor Malloy in a release sent out earlier today; residents who have already provided damage information to Town, State or FEMA representatives must still register with FEMA. In order to receive reimbursement from FEMA, applicants must have no insurance, filed for insurance benefits which were not covered by their insurance, or received an insurance settlement insufficient to meet their losses, according to FEMA’s online information; they may also be directed to file for Small Business Administration loans or other forms of assistance by FEMA.

The FEMA Disaster Recovery Center for Fairfield County will be opening on Thursday, September 8th at noon in the Western Greenwich Civic Center at 499 Pemberwick Road to assist home owners and business affected by Tropical Storm Irene. Hours will be Monday through Saturday from 9:00am to 7:00pm and Sunday from 10:00am to 3:00pm. The Center will be staffed with state and federal disaster specialists, including representatives from the Small Business Administration, who will provide information and answer questions about disaster assistance programs.

“I am urging any individual or business who has suffered losses or damages as a result of Tropical Storm Irene to visit a center and work with staff there to review what benefits to which they may be entitled,” said Governor Malloy. “These centers provide an opportunity to get answers to any questions you might have with regard to federal disaster assistance and assistance with application preparation.”