Westport FD Saves Home, Family Pet from Basement Blaze

Westport Fire Fighters saved a home and a family pet when they extinguished the basement blaze on Half Mile Common Thursday.

The initial dispatch was for an automatic alarm through a central monitoring company for an activated smoke detector; something Assistant Fire Chief Larry Conklin recommends all residents have installed in their homes.

The incident was upgraded to a structure fire as soon as a 9-1-1 call was received from the occupant of the house, Conklin said. The responded with four engines, one ladder truck, the shift commander’s car and a fire inspector. 

Upon arrival, Fire Fighters confirmed that all occupants were out of the building and were able to confine the fire, which damaged a ceiling and wall area of a bathroom in the finished basement, Conklin said. The fire did not spread to the upper floors of the house. 

There was a moderate smoke condition in the remainder of the house, which was ventilated using smoke ejectors, according to Conklin. Fire Fighters were able to save the family’s six year old guinea pig from the house. Fairfield Fire Department sent an Engine Company to cover fire calls from Westport Fire Headquarters for the duration of the incident. There were no civilian or Fire Fighter injuries. The last fire truck cleared the scene just after 9:30 p.m.

Westport Fire Department reminds all residents to have properly operating smoke detectors  in the residence. The initial response to this fire was because of a smoke detector!