Two elderly people seriously injured in West Haven home fire
Two people suffered serious to critical injuries early Saturday morning when a fast-moving fire swept through a home on Malcolm Road in West Haven, leaving an elderly woman unconscious inside and an elderly man suffering from smoke inhalation outside, according to fire officials.
Morning Dispatch and Rescue Operations on Malcolm Road
Emergency services received an alert about a structure fire along the 100 block of Malcolm Road at approximately 3:30 a.m. after a neighbor placed a call to the City of West Haven 911 Dispatch Center. First-responders from the West Haven Fire Department — Allingtown arrived to find heavy fire consuming the northwest corner of the one-story residence and rapidly spreading through the building. Outside the burning home, crews encountered a dazed elderly man suffering from smoke inhalation, according to nhregister.com. Firefighters from Engine 2 and Engine 3 initiated fire suppression while simultaneously launching an interior search. Crews located an unconscious elderly woman roughly 12 feet inside the structure, pulled her outside, and handed her over to emergency medical personnel who initiated advanced life-support treatment.
Victims Taken to Hospitals as Mutual Aid Assists
Both victims were transported to area medical facilities with injuries ranging from serious to critical. One victim was taken to the Bridgeport Hospital Burn Center, while the other was brought to Yale New Haven Hospital’s Saint Raphael Campus, nhregister.com reported. No firefighters were injured during the operation. To maintain citywide coverage and battle the blaze, additional crews responded from the West Haven Center Fire District and the West Shore Fire District through the municipal automatic mutual aid system, while a second alarm was struck to provide backup resources. Firefighters brought the main body of the fire under control within 20 minutes, remaining on the scene afterward to douse hidden hot spots during overhaul operations.
Ongoing Investigation and Safety Reminders
An investigation into what caused the Malcolm Road fire is currently being conducted by the West Haven Fire Department — Allingtown Fire Marshal’s Office, backed by support from the Connecticut Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit. Officials stated that no additional details regarding the victims’ medical conditions or the origin of the fire were immediately available. In the wake of the incident, fire authorities issued reminders for residents to ensure that working smoke alarms are installed on every level of their homes and outside sleeping areas, to test those alarms monthly, and to replace batteries regularly. Officials also urged homeowners to have heating appliances such as space heaters, wood stoves, and fireplaces inspected according to manufacturer guidelines as colder weather arrives. Residents in West Haven who require assistance obtaining or installing smoke detectors can contact the local fire department directly for help.
