Fire Destroys Foggwood Road Garage

A passing motorist is credited with alerting Fairfield firefighters of a garage fire at the corner of Foggwood Road and Foggwood Lane late Friday afternoon.

The motorist called in the fire just before 5 p.m. Friday. Responding firefighters arrived to the two-and-a-half story house and saw the blaze coming from the attached three-car garage. The homeowner and all occupants had safely gotten out of the home before emergency personnel arrived.

The roof of the garage and one wall collapsed shortly after the first fire units arrived on scene, according to Assistant Chief George Gomola.

Firefighters worked to minimize extension of the flames into the home, but determined the fire had spread to the attic, where they opened a ventilation hole in the roof to keep the blaze from spreading.

United Illuminating responded to the scene to make safe the home's electrical service, which was in close proximity to the fire in the attic.

The fire hydrant used to extinguish the fire had recently been installed as part of Fairfield's fire main expansion project, according to Gomola. Prior to the project, the closest hydrant was nearly 1.25 miles away.

"If we didn't have that hydrant, there is a high degree of probability that the garage fire would have consumed the house." Gomola said. "We are so very grateful to the residents of Fairfield for giving us the tools we need to do our job safely and effectively."

No injuries to occupants or firefighters were reported.

Fire Marshal Bill Kessler, Deputy Fire Marshal Darrick Lundeen, and Fire Inspector Hank Ference began investigating the cause of the fire, which has yet to be determined. They did not the odor of natural gas during the preliminary investigation, and the home's gas meter was shut down.