Stamford Fire and Rescue fire fighters were summoned to 42 Givens Ave. at 10:18 am for a report of a structure fire. Upon arrival, first arriving fire units were faced with a heavy fire condition that had taken hold of the basement of the 2 ½ story dwelling.
The Incident Commander, Deputy Chief Robert Lehn immediately assigned all responding fire units to fire control and search and rescue operations. Initial responding units included 3 engine companies, 1 truck company, and 1 rescue company for the Stamford Fire & Rescue Department. An additional engine from the Glenbrook Fire Company was also dispatch in accordance with a standing mutual aid agreement bringing the total units initially dispatched to 7 units.
Conditions indicated that the fire was beginning to take hold of the rest the structure via vertical extension to the 2nd and 3rd floors. The incident commander then sounded a second alarm, which brought an additional engine and truck company to the scene for additional resources to combat the fast moving fire. Fire was declared under control approximately 1 hour after the first alarm.
Fortunately, all occupants of the dwelling had self-evacuated prior to fire department arrival, however, fire units performed search and rescue operations as a standard operating procedure. All 10 occupants of the residence will have to be relocated as a result of the blaze.
Stamford Emergency Medical Services were on scene as part of a standard response on all structure fires. They ultimately had to treat and transport one injured fire fighter when he suffered a strain to his knee. He was treated and released.
