DoingItLocal

As we reported as the story was breaking on December 29, 2011 at 5:58 PM, the Fairfield Fire Department was dispatched to a report of an outside chemical spill at General Electric Headquarters located at 3135 Easton Turnpike. A worker observed a large amount of fluid coming from one of the buildings and reported the problem to GE security. In accordance with local and state protocols, GE activated their emergency response plan and notified the Fairfield Fire Department and Connecticut DEEP of the spill.

Upon arrival, the first fire units were notified that approximately 500 gallons of diluted heat transfer fluid from the buildings utilities had accidentally leaked from a broken pipe and entered the storm drainage system. The liquid traveled through exterior drains to outside areas on the property. The product, called DOWFROST, is NOT considered a Hazardous Chemical according to OSHA standard 1910.1200 and is “practically non toxic to aquatic organisms” per the DOW Chemical Company’s material safety data sheet. Fire personnel quickly worked to minimize the spread of the spill by constructing dams to contain the product and minimize environmental exposure. Cleanup contractors were called to the site by GE with vacuum trucks as a precaution to remove the product for proper disposal. Fairfield Engines 2, 3, 5, HAZMAT support trailer 1 the department’s shift commander responded to the scene. A Connecticut DEEP officer was also on site.

Assistant Chief Scott Bisson stated, “Due to the non-hazardous nature of the materials involved, this situation was ultimately a good test of GE’s and the Fairfield Fire Department’s hazardous materials response partnership.” Bisson further stated, “The product was contained on GE’s property and GE’s neighbors were not at risk during the incident.”

There were no injuries of employees or fire personnel as a result of the incident. Normal business operations at the facility should not be impacted by the cleanup and there were no evacuations required. The last fire unit cleared the scene at 7:42 PM.

Approximately 3:10am firefighters received a call of a structure fire at 26/28 Clinton Avenue possibly with trapped children, unknown floor. By 3:15 first units arrived and found heavy fire in the rear and that the building and it was occupied on the first floor. Initial searches found no one trapped and primary searches confirmed this. The fire was confined to the third story in the rear of the building. The video does show heavy smoke and water damage throughout the building. By 3:26am the bulk of the fire had been knocked down and firefighters continued working fire extensions into the building. Three fire lines were used in the attack. Around 4am command reported there were 4 adults and 6 children left homeless from this fire. The occupants took care of their own living arrangements and that the Red Cross was not needed.
Cablevision’s Internet Boost is taking forever for the upload so please visit our YouTube account to view the video: http://www.youtube.com/user/DoingItLocal?feature=mhee

Finally uploaded:
;

MANCHESTER, N.H. — Authorities said a 74-year-old man smoking while on oxygen died in a fire in Manchester on Tuesday…..The Manchester Fire Department and State Fire Marshal’s Office said Saxton was smoking while on home oxygen system when a small explosion occurred.  Read full report with video….

[SlideDeck id=’494′ width=’100%’ height=’400px’]

10:28pm–#Bridgeport–Report of an odor of smoke at Valley Farm Drive Inn 1995 Boston Ave. UPDATE–Odor of burning plastic coming from the ceiling, they are investigating…recalled a short time later

#Stratford–Earlier tonight police responded to the Bank Of America on Main Street for a ATM technician who locked himself in the bank. You can’t make this stuff up!

7:12pm–#Bridgeport–Another electrical fire, this time at 450 Davidson St. at an electrical outlet.

6:02pm–500 gallons of glyco (anti-freeze) spilled at General Electric Headquarters on Easton Turnpike in #Faifield. Fairfield Fire Hazmat team now on the way.

5:09pm–#Bridgeport 231 Bronx Ave. update–smoke is coming from the fuse box in the basement.

2:55pm–Dinner will be ready…when the fire department arrives. #Bridgeport fire department was called to 2320 East Main Street for a house fire. Upon arrival they report heavy smoke coming from the 2nd floor. After investigating it turned out to be food burning on the stove. Firefighters also encountered problems with motorist running over their charged hoses. The hoses are under great pressure and presents an big danger to firefighters and those around the hose.

1:53am–#Fairfield–Reports of shots fired at Overlook Ave. and Black Rock Turnpike. Three callers called in of shots being fired several times. Police are on scene find nothing. They think its west of Overlook. I’m 4 minutes away but waiting for more info. If there are any updates I will of course post them. Update–2:10am–Police have questioned one residence on Overlook but nothing specific.

11:20pm–#Bridgeport–Delayed ignition on furnace at 90 Tom Thumb Street. causes smoke and scare in the neighborhood….no fire. EMTs treating one for smoke inhalation.

7:14pm–#Bridgeport–Pedestrian struck at 885 Boston Ave near the cemetery.

3:21pm–#Bridgeport–Worker pinned at 452 Harral Ave. rescued by firefighters. Construction worker was inside a bucket on a lift, the load shifted and pinned both his legs. Both legs appear to be fractured according to first responders. They are requesting OSHA to the scene.

11:52pm–#Norwalk #cttraffic Fire department called to Route 7 northbound at exit one to to extricate a finger from a bumper. Finger extricated at 12:08am.

11:10pm–#Fairfield–Pickup truck crashes into telephone pole on Riverside Drive. Both driver and passenger refuse medical attention driver arrested.

10:44pm–#Bridgeport–AMR warning EMTs of an air conditioning unit that was once mounted on a roof is now on the road at Hunting Street near St. Vincents Hospital. Uncertain where the a/c unit is from but its in the road now!

10:07pm–#Bridgeport–55 Shell Street- No power to the area with reports of people stuck in the elevators. These are the Bridgeport Towers and are 7 stories high. Fire department on scene with elevator rescues.

#Torrington #ctfire We have a report of a structure fire at 76 Pythian ave 3rd floor fully involved. Possibly trapped residents. We will give you any updates when we get them, we cannot monitor Torrington from here.UPDATE– One person confirmed dead.

9:25pm–#Fairfield–1437 Fairfield Beach Road reporting the windows on the second floor have been blown in by the wind. This is the same road severely damaged by Hurricane Irene.

Here we go again! Power outages- Stratford-109 Milford-414 and UI only reporting one in Fairfield.

7:59pm—#Fairfield–That’s why the lights flickered! Possible transformer explosion at Congress and Burr Street–Fire department on the way.

7:28pm–#Stratford–Second Hill Ave. watch out for the inflatable snowman blowing down the street!

Bridgeport Police is requesting the public help in identifying this man who is a suspect at two armed robberies.   The first robbery occurred December 20th and the second on December 21st on individual citizens.  Here he is seen at the Madison Key and Spirit Store on Madison Ave. shortly before one of the robberies.   Anyone with information can call the Bridgeport Detective Bureau at 203-581-5201, all infomation will be kept confidential.

 

A Bridgeport man, chased by police early Christmas morning on suspicion of auto theft, faces charges in both Fairfield and Bridgeport. They broke off the pursuit on Stratfield Road in Fairfield, but the SUV was spotted a short time later by a Fairfield officer, where it had stopped at a red traffic light at Fairfield Woods Road and Melville Avenue.     Read full article……

As families gather around their Christmas Trees Christmas morning about 250 gather under a viaduct on John Street in Bridgeport for their holiday cheer.    Ann Marie Tarinelli and a group called Under The Viaduct have been been e-mailing wish lists gathering gifts requested by those much less fortunate.  Ann Marie has been providing a meal once a month, she use to do it monthly but it go to be too much she said.   Some of these people need the basic of necessities we all take for granted, like socks, toothpaste a blanket,  even toilet paper.  If you would like to help Ann Marie you can call her at 203-268-5553  or drop off the basic needs at her home at 18 Country Lane in Trumbull.

BRIDGEPORT — Two elderly people and a cat were safely evacuated after a fire broke out in a three-story house Monday morning on Park Avenue.   Read full story….

A fire tore through the home of an advertising executive in a tiny neighborhood along the Connecticut shoreline Sunday, killing her three children and both of her parents on Christmas morning. Video report from WTNH….

Shortly after 1:30 Christmas morning a Jeep Cherokee struck Kay’s Hong Kong Spa located at 604 North Avenue. The vehicle appears to have been heading north when it crossed the median across the sidewalk striking the building at the corner and bounced back into the road. According to reports a 24 year old male was unrestrained and received head trauma from the windshield and was transported to Saint Vincent’s Hospital. It is uncertain if it was the driver but the damage is on the passengers side.