Fire Burns Trophy Store; Causes Smoke Damage to Adjacent Businesses [Update]

Update: In a news release, Dep. Chief Edward Prescott says an estimated 60 percent of the Crown Trophy store was involved in fire when firefighters arrived.

The tenant who lives in the apartment above the store was provided housing by the Red Cross.

The cause of the fire is under investigtion by the Fire Marshall's office.

Original story:

A fire Wednesday afternoon caused severe burn damage to a trophy supply store on Main Street and filled an upstairs apartment and adjacent businesses in the two-story building with smoke.

Reported at 12:53 p.m., the fire apparently began in the Crown Trophy store at 59 Main St.

Two parakeets in the apartment above died of smoke inhalation. The tenant was not home when the fire began, but arrive shortly afterwards and was observed bringing the dead birds downstairs in their cage.

The fire traveled upwards through the walls of the building, with smoke pouring from the roof. Fire also burned through the outer back wall of the structure.

Smoke entered B.J. Ryan's restaurant and Genuario's Floor Covering Center, which are adjacent to Crown Trophy.

Engine companies from Westport, New Canaan and the Rowayton Volunteer Fire Company came into Norwalk to cover the city in the event another fire was reported.

Deputy Chief Edward Prescott declared the fire under control at 1:34 pm.