Injured Conn. Firefighters Released From Hospital

May 18, 2012
The cause of a fire that heavily damaged a house and garage remains under investigation, but the two firefighters injured have been released from Stamford Hospital.

GREENWICH, Conn. -- The cause of a fire that heavily damaged a house and garage at 5 Steep Hollow Lane in Cos Cob remained under investigation Thursday morning, but the two firefighters injured have been released from Stamford Hospital.

Deputy Chief Brian Koczak said Thursday morning that the firefighters were released at about 10 p.m., nearly five hours after the blaze. Koczak would not release their names or comment on their injuries, but other officials indicated that the injuries were minor.

Inspectors from the town's fire marshal's office are on the scene working to determine the cause of the fire, Koczak said.

The fire began in the garage and quickly spread to the house, said District Chief John Pugni of the Cos Cob Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1. Firefighters knocked down the blaze, but the house suffered significant damage.

Pugni said the house was not livable and four residents were displaced. The American Red Cross responded to the scene to assist the residents. Two pets made it out of the house safely.

Firefighters were dispatched to the scene around 5:25 p.m. for a report of smoke coming from the house. Pugni was first on the scene and said flames were blowing out of the attached garage. The fire spread to the front of the house, up into the roof rafters and down into the basement.

The home was unoccupied at the time and a neighbor called 911 to report the fire, Greenwich Police Lt. Kraig Gray said.

A mayday was issued, and the structure was evacuated around 6 p.m., according to fire department radio transmissions. The firefighter who called for the mayday was removed from the home with unknown injuries. Earlier, a firefighter was taken from the scene by ambulance with an ankle injury.

The one-story, 1,997-square-foot house was built in 1992. The three-bedroom ranch sits on 2.15 acres and has an attached garage, according to public records. According to records, the property is assessed at $936,530. Thomas and Nancy Kralovenec, who own and operate Kralovenec Electric LLC, live at the house, according to public records.

Copyright 2012 - Connecticut Post, Bridgeport

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