Norwalk Firefighters Extinguish Blaze in Apartment Stairwell

Crews from the Norwalk Fire Department on Saturday morning extinguished a small blaze in a stairwell at a housing complex at 16 School Street.

According to a report from Deputy Chief Edward Prescott of the Norwalk Fire Department, crews responded to a fire alarm activation at the complex at about 10:30 am. On arrival they observed light smoke on the first floor and a high level of heat coming from behind an interior basement door.

Fire crews quickly entered the door and extinguished a small fire in the stairwell. The stairwell sustained heavy heat and smoke damage.

The report does not state what started the fire or what burned.

Fire Inspector Broderick Sawyer said a resident of the apartment closest to the fire evacuated before firefighters arrived. Her apartment suffered mild smoke damage, but no other apartments were affected, according to the report. He said a smoke alarm in the building's basement alerted the resident to the fire.

The Norwalk Housing Authority, which owns the complex, will assist in making the necessary repairs to the apartment, according to the report.

Altogether 24 firefighters responded to the alarm. Three engines, two trucks and a rescue and command car were dispatched, according to Deputy Chief Prescott's report.

Firefighters cleared the scene by 12:00 p.m.