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Crime & Safety

Firefighter Struck In Face, Knocked Unconscious, At East Norwalk House Fire [Update]

Firefighter Jack Kelly listed in stable condition at Norwalk Hospital. Fire was confined to a second-floor enclosed porch.

Update: In a news release, Dep. Chief Gino Gatto said the fire was discovered by Fire Capt. Read Auerbach, who was off-duty and driving past the house when he saw smoke coming from it. He alerted the occupants to evacuate.

Gatto said three engine companies, two truck companies, a rescue squad and the command car responded to the fire.

Original Story: A city firefighter was struck in the face and knocked unconscious Tuesday afternoon while working at a house fire in East Norwalk.

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Firefighter Jack Kelly was on a second-floor roof pulling siding off the house when he was struck by something that hit him in the right jaw. Kelly immediately fell face down.

His colleagues surrounded him and then carried him into the house through a window. Kelly was taken on a gurney to a waiting ambulance and transported to Norwalk Hospital.

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About an hour later, a broadcast on the city's ambulance dispatch channel said Kelly was in stable condition. There were no other injuries.

The fire, reported at 12:32 p.m., was confined to a second-floor enclosed porch. It was declared under control at 12:57 p.m.

Once the visible flames were extinguished, firefighters tore away the facade and interior walls of the porch looking for extension into the framework of the two-family house at 14 Gregory Blvd. They also cut a hole through the roof, as heavy smoke coming from an attic window indicated the fire had spread upwards through the porch's ceiling.

Fire Marshall Glen Iannacone was at the scene to investigate the cause of the fire.

Power was shut off to the house. The Red Cross came to the scene to assist its residents in finding shelter.

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