DoingItLocal

Mary Jane Foster, mayoral candidate for the Democratic Party in Bridgeport laid out her ten point plan for education in the city.

In a need for a leaner post office, four local branches are slated to close, they are:

Bridgeport–Nobel Station and Barnum Station.

Stamford–Glenbrook and West Avenue Stations

New Haven–Trolly Square, Kilby, Baybrook, Westivlle Stations and the Mout Carmel Carrier Annex.

Across Connecticut about 400 post offices, and about  150 small branches are being postmarked for closing.  The Postal Service lost $2.8 billion last year and expect the same this year which is why the cuts are being proposed.

6:25pm the Fairfield Emergency Communication Center received a report from a neighbor of 87 Old Dam Road of “fire showing from the roof,” with 911 call from the residence and another call reporting that neighbors had “been able to knock on the door and remove the family from the residence.” Fairfield Fire Engines 1, 2, 4 and 5, Ladders 1 and 2, and Cars 1, 3 and 5 responded along with Fairfield Police, the Fairfield Building Official and American Medical Response.

Engine 1 was first on the scene and reported smoke coming from the north gable of the two story wood-frame house, directing Ladder 1 to ventilate and Engine 4 to take the hydrant. Upon making entry and accessing the attic through a hatch, the fire was found to be contained to a whole-house attic fan and surrounding insulation material, which was extinguished with a 1 ¾” hoseline. Fire personnel then ventilated the home to clear the smoke and removed the burned fan and insulation from the house.

“Fortunately we were able to quickly extinguish this fire before it became unmanageable due to a vigilant neighbor who alerted the family to evacuate before anyone was hurt and called for the Fire Department,” said Assistant Chief Scott Bisson who served as Incident Commander. Assistant Chief Bisson noted that the cause of the fire had been found to be accidental and originating in the attic fan causing damage to the attic, adding that “homeowners should use caution when using appliances that have not been used for a period of time, or if they are uncertain that the appliance is in good working order.”

Assistant Chief Bisson placed a recall of alarm at 6:41pm, releasing Engine 5 from the scene at that time but holding all other units. Westport and Bridgeport Fire Departments sent units to Fairfield for mutual aid coverage, with Bridgeport apparatus responding to calls while they were covering. After speaking with the occupants Bisson observed that the Old Dam Road residence remained habitable with relatively minor smoke and water damage. Engine 1 was the last Fire Department unit to clear at 7:26pm.

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6:50pm–#Bridgeport #ctfire Fire department on scene of 115 Livingston Place, light smoke showing. Small fire in the doorway and they are going to work on it. UPDATE–Home owner is being uncooperative and being physically restrained. Police requested.

1:13pm–#Southport–Group of teens set up a table in the middle of the road in front of the Southport Art Gallery on Pequot Road.

11:10pm–Major explosion at ConnEd Plant on the east River Astoria NY.  FBI now rolling in to investigate.  DoingItLocal.com’s follower Kevin Kiekel with the breaking news, updates as we get them.

 

8:57pm–#Fairfield–Kids on the the roof of The Pantry Restaurant  1580 Post Road and they are setting off fireworks.  What a great idea!

11:49am-#Bridgeport–Fire department./EMTs on the way to Waldorf and Ellsworth for a man who fell out of a tree.

1:18am–United Illuminating reporting 3,462 without power in Bridgeport. We have reports it is in the north end, that a transformer blew on Madison Ave near the Stop and Shop.

#Bridgeport–Car struck a house a 3235 Madison Ave

12:11–#Bridgeport–EMTs on scene at University of Bridgeport’s gymnasium for a “tramatic injury”. Another ambulance has been dispatched for a lift assist. No other details at this time.

12:27am–Fairfield– Cleaning lady shows up to clean the office building at 69 Sherman Street to find the basement filled with water. Sounds like dentist Dr. Demartin will be a little down mouth tomorrow, Googlemaps says that is his office.

11:22pm–#Bridgeport–Fire department is on scene at 25 Durango Place for high carbon monoxide levels in the house. All residents were out of the house when they arrived. Firefighters received levels of 90ppm (parts per million) in the kitchen, 110 in the basement and 100 in the bedroom. There are no pilot lights out and the continue investigating with air packs on.

About 700 people from across the country turned out to remember fallen heroes Lt. Steven J. Velasquez and Firefighter Michel Baik who perished battling a blaze one year ago.

4:14pm–#Fairfield—Fairfield Police Dispatch received several 911 calls for a water rescue at Penfield Beach. They quickly dispatched the marine unit, fire department and dive team. Shortly after the call went out police dispatch reported that there was one person in distress and the father has him out of the water. Police continued to get conflicting reports on the number victims. It did turn out to be one boy who went under but was rescued by his father. Firefighters and EMTs checked the boy out and found him to be fine and did not need further medical attention. By 4:25pm the rescue was recalled. For that brief ten minutes a flurry of activity swirled emergency personnel to ensure everyone’s safety. Well done!  UPDATE— We just contacted Sergeant Lussier of the Fairfield Police Department. She tells us that this occurred at the Penfield sandbar, a parent was with his other children when his three year old got swept off their feet (not known if it was a boy or girl), the child was recovered by a near by man on a kayak and the parent grabbed his other children. Witnesses tell us that the two rescuers were Eric Barthel of Windsor Locks and Bryan Cafferelli of Fairfield. Sergeant Lussier confirmed that all the emergency resources we listed were deployed but not needed; and that further medical on the child was not necessary. Bridgeport’s water rescue boat from the Vibes was also deployed but not needed.

Remembering the fallen heroes one year later when Lt. Steven Velasquez and Firefighter Michel Baik paid the ultimate sacrifice a year ago.
Personal editorial here:
We had the only cameras on scene and witnessed first hand things a camera cannot capture like the extreme heat conditions that existed without a fire. I had just come from an interview with Mayor Finch where he had opened cooling centers because the temperatures had reached over one hundred degrees. In the final reports the state conducted investigating this tragedy no where does it indicate high temperatures as a factor. I personally feel these reports unfairly place the blame on the firefighters. Watch the extreme conditions they faced in this video. We have all witnessed through our videos the heroic acts the Bridgeport Firefighters perform on a daily basis. I would be very comfortable in knowing my well being depended on the Bridgeport Firefighters. Regardless, we still lost two great men that day.

As you expect for DoingItLocal.com the extended story. Sadly for this one two Bridgeport Firefighters lost thier lives fighting a blaze on Elmwood Avenue today.

One firefighter was treated for heat disorder after battling this blaze at 251-257 Park Street. The house was foreclosed and abandoned. Less than an hour prior Bridgeport Firefighters and us were at another foreclosed abandoned home fire at 216-218 Brooks Street not even 1/4 mile away. Special thanks to Garth Trotto with this story.

Eastbound trains are delayed 45 minutes and westbound service is suspended as the heat takes its toll on Metro-North.
“There are numerous weather-related problems,” Spokesman Marjorie Anders said in a press release. “At least three trains have become ensnared in drooping overheard catenary wire due to this afternoon’s extraordinary heat.”
Temperatures were above 100 as it neared 5 p.m.
Around 4:30 p.m., the 3:27 p.m. train out of New Haven, due at Grand Central terminal at 5:15 p.m. became disabled west of the Stratford station due to damage to the pantograph, the mechanical arm on top of trains that draws power from the overhead wires. An empty train was being sent alongside the disabled one to transport those passengers.
The 1:34 p.m. out of Grand Central, due in New Haven at 3:18 p.m., became disabled between the Westport and Green’s Farms stations. The power was turned off to the overhead wires so the crew could climb up and isolate the disabled pantograph. While this was under way, there is no air conditioning on the train.
Three people complained of heat prostration and were being treated by medical personnel at Green’s Farms, where the trains was met by EMS, Anders said.
Numerous fire and EMS units were responding to the scene, ferrying water for passengers.
Anders said none of the medical conditions were serious.
The train was expected to move and arrive in New Haven around 90 minutes late.
The 12:07 p.m. train from Grand Central, due in New Haven at 1:52 p.m. became disabled between Stratford and Bridgeport also with a pantograph problem.
Several sections of track are out of service continually for construction work, including installation of new catenary wire. This reduces operating flexibility and contributes to the delays, Anders said.