Saturday, December 10, 2005
353 Ogden St (John-4)
Heavy fire in an occupied two-story with major extension on the "C" to an occupied three-story at 983 Kossuth Street.
Photos
Connecticut Post
Houses destroyed, 6 families homeless
Six families were left homeless by a fast moving fire that destroyed two multi-family dwellings in the heart of the city's East Side early Saturday morning. Fire officials said the blaze started in the rear bedroom of 353 Ogden St., then leapt to a neighboring home at 983 Kossuth St. A couple and the 4-month-old son were briefly trapped in their third-floor apartment in the Kossuth street house. The woman told Red Cross officials she was awakened by the sound of breaking glass and at first thought someone was trying to break into the apartment. After realizing that the building was on fire, the couple tried to escape by going down the front stairs only to find it blocked by heavy smoke and flames. They then tried the back stairwell. It, too, was blocked. At that point, fearing they were trapped, the woman broke a window cutting her hand in the process. Eventually the couple crawled to safety when firefighters poured water into the building, knocking down flames in the back stairwell. The couple and baby were taken to Bridgeport Hospital where they were treated for minor cuts and smoke inhalation and released. Yoeny and Guido Feliz have lived in the second floor apartment ot the Kossuth Street house with their 2-yr-old daughter for almost three months. "It was terrible," said Yoeny Feliz. "My husband woke me up when he smelled smoke. We just ran down the stairs and into the street." Red Cross officials relocated the couple to a local motel. Saturday afternoon the Felizes left the baby with relatives and returned to the fire gutted apartment where they attempted to salvage any of their belongings that were not damaged. As they walked from the charred building looking downcast, their hands were covered in black soot but they carried nothing. According to East Side Fire Battalion Chief Dominick Carfi, six engines responded to the fire at 2:23 a.m. Saturday. They were joined by two ladder trucks and a rescue unit. Chief Ismael Pomales was in charge at the scene. Carfi said both houses were well involved when firetrucks arrived. Sparks from the fire in the Ogden Street house fell onto the Kossuth Street house starting a fire on the roof. From there, flames raced through the building's wood baloon frame structure, and down into the apartments below. Siding melted on two houses adjacent to the burning structure, but quick work by Bridgeport firefighters prevented them from also catching fire. Gilbert Bayerle lives in the house next to the destroyed Kossuth Street house. He said he was awakened by the arrival of the first engines, His friend Angel Labrador, said he could feel the heat from the fire through the wall of the house. Although fire officials were able to determine that the blaze started in the rear of the Ogden Street house, the cause was still being investigated Saturday. Red Cross officials who were at the scene Saturday morning, said they relocated 21 residents of the two buildings.
Photos
Connecticut Post
Houses destroyed, 6 families homeless
Six families were left homeless by a fast moving fire that destroyed two multi-family dwellings in the heart of the city's East Side early Saturday morning. Fire officials said the blaze started in the rear bedroom of 353 Ogden St., then leapt to a neighboring home at 983 Kossuth St. A couple and the 4-month-old son were briefly trapped in their third-floor apartment in the Kossuth street house. The woman told Red Cross officials she was awakened by the sound of breaking glass and at first thought someone was trying to break into the apartment. After realizing that the building was on fire, the couple tried to escape by going down the front stairs only to find it blocked by heavy smoke and flames. They then tried the back stairwell. It, too, was blocked. At that point, fearing they were trapped, the woman broke a window cutting her hand in the process. Eventually the couple crawled to safety when firefighters poured water into the building, knocking down flames in the back stairwell. The couple and baby were taken to Bridgeport Hospital where they were treated for minor cuts and smoke inhalation and released. Yoeny and Guido Feliz have lived in the second floor apartment ot the Kossuth Street house with their 2-yr-old daughter for almost three months. "It was terrible," said Yoeny Feliz. "My husband woke me up when he smelled smoke. We just ran down the stairs and into the street." Red Cross officials relocated the couple to a local motel. Saturday afternoon the Felizes left the baby with relatives and returned to the fire gutted apartment where they attempted to salvage any of their belongings that were not damaged. As they walked from the charred building looking downcast, their hands were covered in black soot but they carried nothing. According to East Side Fire Battalion Chief Dominick Carfi, six engines responded to the fire at 2:23 a.m. Saturday. They were joined by two ladder trucks and a rescue unit. Chief Ismael Pomales was in charge at the scene. Carfi said both houses were well involved when firetrucks arrived. Sparks from the fire in the Ogden Street house fell onto the Kossuth Street house starting a fire on the roof. From there, flames raced through the building's wood baloon frame structure, and down into the apartments below. Siding melted on two houses adjacent to the burning structure, but quick work by Bridgeport firefighters prevented them from also catching fire. Gilbert Bayerle lives in the house next to the destroyed Kossuth Street house. He said he was awakened by the arrival of the first engines, His friend Angel Labrador, said he could feel the heat from the fire through the wall of the house. Although fire officials were able to determine that the blaze started in the rear of the Ogden Street house, the cause was still being investigated Saturday. Red Cross officials who were at the scene Saturday morning, said they relocated 21 residents of the two buildings.
